FEW chairs of dignity in England now The wise man covets,—not the ducal gold Of Bedford or Northumberland, or to hold Portfolios of statecraft and thus grow One of the Families; some few allow The impossible ambition, being not sold Into entire contempt but aureoled With famous tales and spiritual show: As, for the name of the city and our love, The Mayoralty of London; then, the See Of Dubric, Anselm, Temple; last, the chair, By Dryden fashioned and Wordsworth made more fair, Of the English Laureate; any of these three If a man held, he should be proud thereof. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BY THE PACIFIC by HERBERT BASHFORD HOLY THURSDAY, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE TO CHARLOTTE PULTENEY [IN HER MOTHER'S ARMS] by AMBROSE PHILIPS CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR by ROSSITER WORTHINGTON RAYMOND TO THE MOON (1) by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY LINES COMPOSED A FEW MILES ABOVE TINTERN ABBEY by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |