London, 1802 - William Wordsworth
/London, 1802 - William Wordsworth/
A Calling to Renew England’s Virtues through Milton’s Spirit
Original Poem (English), line by line:
Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:
England hath need of thee: she is a fen
Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,
Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,
Have forfeited their ancient English dower
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
Oh! raise us up, return to us again;
And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.
Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,
So didst thou travel on life’s common way,
In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart
The lowliest duties on herself did lay.
In “London, 1802,” William Wordsworth laments the moral stagnation of England, likening it to a “fen of stagnant waters.” Addressing the spirit of John Milton, Wordsworth yearns for the poet’s moral and intellectual leadership to return, thereby restoring lost virtues such as “manners, virtue, freedom, power.” By alluding to Milton, Wordsworth highlights the patriotic, spiritual, and ethical values that he believes England has forsaken—emphasizing personal integrity, noble ideals, and a sense of civic duty.
The poem’s sonnet form underscores Wordsworth’s urgency. Milton is portrayed as a guiding star—steadfast, apart from the mundane, and endowed with a voice as resonant as the sea. In describing Milton’s heart as aligned with “cheerful godliness,” Wordsworth suggests that great artistry must be rooted in both virtue and humility. The speaker’s plea implies that the aristocracy, the Church, and the arts once stood for loftier ideals, but now everything has eroded into selfishness. By calling on Milton’s example, Wordsworth insists that modern England must reclaim its moral compass and rekindle devotion to common good.
Fundamentally, “London, 1802” is a clarion call for self-examination and renewal. Wordsworth frames England’s identity not as a mere political entity but as a moral community, one that desperately needs spiritual reawakening. Through the memory of Milton’s integrity, the poet aspires to awaken a collective conscience capable of elevating England from cultural decay to its former, virtuous heights. (Approx. 220 words)
Key points
1. Wordsworth perceives England as having lost its moral and cultural vitality.
2. He invokes Milton as a paragon of virtue, freedom, and influential eloquence.
3. The poem reflects a Romantic blend of social critique and spiritual aspiration.
4. Wordsworth underscores that genuine greatness demands both moral depth and humility.
5. “London, 1802” serves as a summons to reclaim civic and personal responsibility.