The King of Sweden

William Wordsworth

THE VOICE of song from distant lands shall call

To that great king; shall hail the crownéd youth

Who, taking counsel of unbending Truth,

By one example hath set forth to all

How they with dignity may stand,—or fall,

If fall they must. Now, whither doth it tend?

And what to him and his shall be the end?

That thought is one which neither can appall

Nor cheer him; for the illustrious Swede hath done

The thing which ought to be; he stands above

All consequences: work he hath begun

Of fortitude and piety and love,

Which all his glorious ancestors approve:

The heroes bless him,—him their rightful son.


Main Location:

Sweden