402. England and Switzerland

[1802]

William Wordsworth (1770—1850)

  TWO voices are there, one is of the Sea,

  One of the Mountains, each a mighty voice:

  In both from age to age thou didst rejoice,

  They were thy chosen music, Liberty!

  There came a tyrant, and with holy glee

  Thou fought’st against him,—but hast vainly striven:

  Thou from thy Alpine holds at length art driven

  Where not a torrent murmurs heard by thee.

  —Of one deep bliss thine ear hath been bereft;

  Then cleave, O cleave to that which still is left—

  For high-soul’d Maid, what sorrow would it be

  That Mountain floods should thunder as before,

  And Ocean bellow from his rocky shore,

  And neither awful Voice be heard by Thee!