And tell, since juvenile errors are my theme,
  What in those days, through Britain, was performed 55
  To turn all judgments out of their right course;
  But this is passion over-near ourselves,
  Reality too close and too intense,
  And intermixed with something, in my mind,
  Of scorn and condemnation personal, 60
  That would profane the sanctity of verse. 
  Our Shepherds, this say merely, at that time
  Acted, or seemed at least to act, like men
  Thirsting to make the guardian crook of law
  A tool of murder; [B] they who ruled the State, 65
  Though with such awful proof before their eyes
  That he, who would sow death, reaps death, or worse,
  And can reap nothing better, child-like longed
  To imitate, not wise enough to avoid;
  Or left (by mere timidity betrayed) 70
  The plain straight road, for one no better chosen
  Than if their wish had been to undermine
  Justice, and make an end of Liberty. [B]

    But from these bitter truths I must return
  To my own history.  It hath been told 75
  That I was led to take an eager part
  In arguments of civil polity,
  Abruptly, and indeed before my time: 
  I had approached, like other youths, the shield
  Of human nature from the golden side, 80
  And would have fought, even to the death, to attest
  The quality of the metal which I saw. 
  What there is best in individual man,
  Of wise in passion, and sublime in power,
  Benevolent in small societies, 85
  And great in large ones, I had oft revolved,
  Felt deeply, but not thoroughly understood
  By reason:  nay, far from it; they were yet,
  As cause was given me afterwards to learn,
  Not proof against the injuries of the day; 90
  Lodged only at the sanctuary’s door,
  Not safe within its bosom.  Thus prepared,
  And with such general insight into evil,
  And of the bounds which sever it from good,
  As books and common intercourse with life 95
  Must needs have given—­to the inexperienced mind,
  When the world travels in a beaten road,
  Guide faithful as is needed—­I began
  To meditate with ardour on the rule
  And management of nations; what it is 100
  And ought to be; and strove to learn how far
  Their power or weakness, wealth or poverty,
  Their happiness or misery, depends
  Upon their laws, and fashion of the State.