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William Wordsworth

Helen Darbishire and Ernest De Selincourt (eds), The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Vol. 3: Miscellaneous Sonnets; Memorials of Various Tours; Poems to National Independence and Liberty; The Egyptian Maid; The River Duddon Series; The White Doe and Other Narrative Poems; Ecclesiastical Sonnets (Second Edition)

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Editor’s NoteEditor’s NoteXXVLINES ON THE EXPECTED INVASION 1803

[Composed 1803.—Published: vol. of 1842.]

  • 1Come ye—who, if (which Heaven avert!) the Land
  • 2Were with herself at strife, would take your stand,
  • 3Like gallant Falkland, by the Monarch's side,
  • 4And, like Montrose, make Loyalty your pride—
  • 5Come ye—who, not less zealous, might display
  • Critical Apparatus6Banners at enmity with regal sway,
  • 7And, like the Pyms and Miltons of that day,
  • 8Think that a State would live in sounder health
  • 9If Kingship bowed its head to Commonwealth—
  • 10Ye too—whom no discreditable fear
  • 11Would keep, perhaps with many a fruitless tear,
  • 12Uncertain what to choose and how to steer—
  • 13And ye—who might mistake for sober sense
  • 14And wise reserve the plea of indolence—
  • 15Come ye—whate'er your creed—O waken all,
  • 16Whate'er your temper, at your Country's call;
  • 17Resolving (this a free-born Nation can)
  • 18To have one Soul, and perish to a man,
  • 19Or save this honoured Land from every Lord
  • 20But British reason and the British sword.

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Editor’s Note
p. 121. XXV. Lines on the Expected Invasion: cf. The Excursion, vii. 757–65. Lucius Cary, Viscount Falkland, 1610–43, was Secretary of State in 1642, and fell at the battle of Newbury. James Graham, first Marquis of Montrose, led a Highland rising against the government at Edinburgh (1643); he defeated Argyle at Inverlochy, but was himself beaten at Philliphaugh in September 1645 and escaped abroad (1646). He returned to Scotland and once more took up arms, but was defeated at Invercorran, and hanged in the Grassmarket at Edinburgh. John Pym, 1584–1643, was for many years unacknowledged leader of the House of Commons, and a prime mover in the Grand Remonstrance (1641). He was one of the five members impeached in the House of Lords for high treason (1642).
Critical Apparatus
XXV. 6 regal] lineal MS., corr.
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