Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

To Milton (Author: Oscar Wilde)

p.140

1. • 1] MILTON! I think thy spirit hath passed away
     2] From these white cliffs and high-embattled towers;
     3] This gorgeous fiery-coloured world of ours
     4] Seems fallen into ashes dull and grey,
     5] And the age changed unto a mimic play
     6] Wherein we waste our else too-crowded hours:
     7] For all our pomp and pageantry and powers
     8] We are but fit to delve the common clay,
   • 9] Seeing this little isle on which we stand,
     10] This England, this sea-lion of the sea,
     11] By ignorant demagogues is held in fee,
     12] Who love her not: Dear God! is this the land
     13] Which bare a triple empire in her hand
     14] When Cromwell spake the word Democracy!