GREAT men have been among us; hands that penned And tongues that uttered wisdom -- better none: The later Sidney, Marvel, Harrington, Young Vane, and others who called Milton friend. These moralists could act and comprehend: They knew how genuine glory was put on; Taught us how rightfully nation shone In splendour: what strength was, that would not bend But in magnanimous meekness. France, 'tis strange, Hath brought forth no such souls as we had then. Perpetual emptiness! unceasing change! No single volume paramount, no code, No master spirit, no determined road; But equally a want of books and men! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IMITATION OF POPE: A COMPLIMENT TO THE LADIES by WILLIAM BLAKE WINTER NIGHT by CH'IEN WEN OF LIANG CORINNA'S GOING A-MAYING by ROBERT HERRICK EPITAPHS OF THE WAR, 1914-18: COMMON FORM by RUDYARD KIPLING THE IMMORTALS by ISAAC ROSENBERG THE FOOL'S ADVENTURE by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE MISS MILLY O'NAIRE by WILLARD GROSVENOR BLEYER CHANGE UPON CHANGE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING EPISTLE FROM LORD BORINGDON TO LORD GRANVILLE by GEORGE CANNING |