Riddle 118

Though some one spoke this truthful word,
“The pen is mightier than the sword,”
Without my first, you ’ll all agree,
Of little use the pen would be.

Deep in my second, long ago,
Young Mr. Green was said to throw
A victim innocent of wrong,
The hero of a well-known song.

What products of what mighty brains!
What wond’rous books my whole contains!
What reams of prose and verse! Yet all
Tinged with the bitterness of gall!