History & Politics

Ah! where is Palafox? Nor tongue nor pen

by William Wordsworth 1770–1850

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

History & Politics

Ah! where is Palafox? Nor tongue nor pen
Reports of him, his dwelling or his grave!
Does yet the unheard-of vessel ride the wave?
Or is she swallowed up, remote from ken
Of pitying human-nature? Once again
Methinks that we shall hail thee, Champion brave,
Redeemed to baffle that imperial Slave,
And through all Europe cheer desponding men
With new-born hope. Unbounded is the might
Of martyrdom, and fortitude, and right.
Hark, how thy Country triumphs!--Smilingly
The Eternal looks upon her sword that gleams,
Like his own lightning, over mountains high,
On rampart, and the banks of all her streams.

✦ ✦ ✦

Composed 1810; published 1815.

MLA

Wordsworth, William. “Ah! where is Palafox? Nor tongue nor pen.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/252/.

Chicago

Wordsworth, William. “Ah! where is Palafox? Nor tongue nor pen.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/252/.

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