THE THIRD PERIOD
NINETEENTH CENTURY

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, 1802
(1770-1850)

It is not to be thought of that the flood

Of British freedom, which, to the open sea

Of the world’s praise, from dark antiquity

Hath flowed “with pomp of waters unwithstood,”

Roused though it be full often to a mood

Which spurns the check of salutary bands,