History & Politics

At Bologna, in Remembrance of the Late Insurrections, 1837, II

by William Wordsworth 1770–1850

From Memorials of a Tour in Italy, 1837

History & Politics

Hard task! exclaim the undisciplined, to lean
On Patience coupled with such slow endeavour,
That long-lived servitude must last for ever.
Perish the grovelling few, who, prest between
Wrongs and the terror of redress, would wean
Millions from glorious aims. Our chains to sever
Let us break forth in tempest now or never!--
What, is there then no space for golden mean
And gradual progress?--Twilight leads to day,
And, even within the burning zones of earth,
The hastiest sunrise yields a temperate ray;
The softest breeze to fairest flowers gives birth:
Think not that Prudence dwells in dark abodes,
She scans the future with the eye of gods.

MLA

Wordsworth, William. “At Bologna, in Remembrance of the Late Insurrections, 1837, II.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/770/.

Chicago

Wordsworth, William. “At Bologna, in Remembrance of the Late Insurrections, 1837, II.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/770/.

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