Well might my wishes be intense, my thoughts
  Strong and perturbed, not doubting at that time 210
  But that the virtue of one paramount mind
  Would have abashed those impious crests—­have quelled
  Outrage and bloody power, and, in despite
  Of what the People long had been and were
  Through ignorance and false teaching, sadder proof 215
  Of immaturity, and in the teeth
  Of desperate opposition from without—­
  Have cleared a passage for just government,
  And left a solid birthright to the State,
  Redeemed, according to example given 220
  By ancient lawgivers. 
                  In this frame of mind,
  Dragged by a chain of harsh necessity,
  So seemed it,—­now I thankfully acknowledge,
  Forced by the gracious providence of Heaven,—­
  To England I returned, [M] else (though assured 225
  That I both was and must be of small weight,
  No better than a landsman on the deck
  Of a ship struggling with a hideous storm)
  Doubtless, I should have then made common cause
  With some who perished; haply perished too, [N] 230
  A poor mistaken and bewildered offering,—­
  Should to the breast of Nature have gone back,
  With all my resolutions, all my hopes,
  A Poet only to myself, to men
  Useless, and even, beloved Friend! a soul 235
  To thee unknown!

      Twice had the trees let fall
  Their leaves, as often Winter had put on
  His hoary crown, since I had seen the surge
  Beat against Albion’s shore, [O] since ear of mine
  Had caught the accents of my native speech 240
  Upon our native country’s sacred ground. 
  A patriot of the world, how could I glide
  Into communion with her sylvan shades,
  Erewhile my tuneful haunt?  It pleased me more
  To abide in the great City, [P] where I found 245
  The general air still busy with the stir
  Of that first memorable onset made
  By a strong levy of humanity
  Upon the traffickers in Negro blood; [Q]
  Effort which, though defeated, had recalled 250
  To notice old forgotten principles,
  And through the nation spread a novel heat
  Of virtuous feeling.  For myself, I own
  That this particular strife had wanted power
  To rivet my affections; nor did now 255
  Its unsuccessful issue much excite
  My sorrow; for I brought with me the faith
  That, if France prospered, good men would not long
  Pay fruitless worship to humanity,
  And this most rotten branch of human shame, 260
  Object, so seemed it, of superfluous pains,
  Would fall together with its parent tree. 
  What, then, were my emotions, when in arms