Grey, thou hast served, and well, the sacred Cause <br />That Hampden, Sydney died for. Thou hast stood, <br />Scorning the foremost of Self, from first to last, <br />Among the foremost in that glorious field; <br />From first to last; and, ardent as thou art, <br />Held on with equal step as best became <br />A lofty mind, loftiest when most assailed; <br />Never, though galled by many a barbed shaft, <br />By many a bitter taunt from friend and foe, <br />Swerving, or shrinking. Happy in thy Youth, <br />Thy Youth the dawn of a long summer-day; <br />But in thy Age still happier; thine to earn <br />The gratitude of millions yet to be; <br />Thine to conduct, through ways how difficult, <br />A mighty people in their march sublime <br />From Good to Better. Great thy recompense, <br />When in their eyes thou read'st what thou hast done; <br />And may'st thou long enjoy it; may'st thou long <br />Preserve for them what still they claim as theirs, <br />That generous fervour and pure eloquence, <br />Thine from thy birth and Nature's noblest gifts, <br />To guard what They have gained!<br /><br />Samuel Rogers<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/written-in-july/
