 | Three Hundred Sonnets |  |
4
OUR DAY.
O, but how great a thing it is, how glad,To live in this our day! when plain strong sense,
Free knowledge, and Religion's influence,
Build up a wall against the false and bad,
And give the good both temple and defence:
To live,—when ancient enmities intense
Turn to new brotherhoods, till now unknown;
When science and invention bless the world,
Banishing half our pains and woes far hence;
When time is trebled, distance neighbour-grown;
When tyranny from every throne is hurl'd;
When Right is Might, and Reason holds her own:
O, happy day! for prophets priests and kings
Have longed in vain to see such glorious things.
| Three Hundred Sonnets | |