Nature

Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side

by William Wordsworth 1770–1850

From Poetical Works, ed. Knight (1896), vol. II

Nature

Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side,
Together in immortal books enrolled:
His ancient dower Olympus hath not sold;
And that inspiring Hill, which "did divide
Into two ample horns his forehead wide,"
Shines with poetic radiance as of old;
While not an English Mountain we behold
By the celestial Muses glorified.
Yet round our sea-girt shore they rise in crowds:
What was the great Parnassus' self to Thee,
Mount Skiddaw? In his natural sovereignty
Our British Hill is nobler far; he shrouds
His double front among Atlantic clouds,
And pours forth streams more sweet than Castaly.

✦ ✦ ✦

Composed 1801; published 1815.

MLA

Wordsworth, William. “Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/191/.

Chicago

Wordsworth, William. “Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/191/.

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