Poems in Two Volumes, Volume 1. William Wordsworth

        Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he

        Whom every Man in arms should wish to be?

        – It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought

        Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought

        Upon the plan that pleased his childish thought:

        Whose high endeavours are an inward light

        That make the path before him always bright:

        Who, with a natural instinct to discern

        What knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn;

        Abides by this resolve, and stops not there, 10

        But makes his moral being his prime care;

        Who, doom'd to go in company with Pain,

        And Fear, and Bloodshed, miserable train!

        Turns his necessity to glorious gain;

        In face of these doth exercise a power

        Which is our human-nature's highest dower;

        Controls them and subdues, transmutes, bereaves

        Of their bad influence, and their good receives;

        By objects, which might force the soul to abate

        Her feeling, render'd more compassionate; 20

        Is placable because occasions rise

        So often that demand such sacrifice;

        More skilful in self-knowledge, even more pure,

        As tempted more; more able to endure,

        As more expos'd to suffering and distress;

        Thence, also, more alive to tenderness.

        Tis he whose law is reason; who depends

        Upon that law as on the best of friends;

        Whence, in a state where men are tempted still

        To evil for a guard against worse ill, 30

        And what in quality or act is best

        Doth seldom on a right foundation rest,

        He fixes good on good alone, and owes

        To virtue every triumph that he knows:

        – Who, if he rise to station of command,

        Rises by open means; and there will stand

        On honourable terms, or else retire,

        And in himself possess his own desire;

        Who comprehends his trust, and to the same

        Keeps faithful with a singleness of aim; 40

        And therefore does not stoop, nor lie in wait

        For wealth, or honors, or for worldly state;

        Whom they must follow; on whose head must fall,

        Like showers of manna, if they come at all:

        Whose powers shed round him in the common strife,

        Or mild concerns of ordinary life,

        A constant influence, a peculiar grace;

        But who, if he be called upon to face

        Some awful moment to which heaven has join'd

        Great issues, good or bad for human-kind, 50

        Is happy as a Lover; and attired

        With sudden brightness like a Man inspired;

        And through the heat of conflict keeps the law

        In calmness made, and sees what he foresaw;

        Or if an unexpected call succeed,

        Come when it will, is equal to the need:

        – He who, though thus endued as with a sense

        And faculty for storm and turbulence,

        Is yet a Soul whose master bias leans

        To home-felt pleasures and to gentle scenes; 60

        Sweet images! which, wheresoe'er he be,

        Are at his heart; and such fidelity

        It is his darling passion to approve;

        More brave for this, that he hath much to love:

        'Tis, finally, the Man, who, lifted high,

        Conspicuous object in a Nation's eye,

        Or left unthought-of in obscurity,

        Who, with a toward or untoward lot,

        Prosperous or adverse, to his wish or not,

        Plays, in the many games of life, that one 70

        Where what he most doth value must be won;

        Whom neither shape of danger can dismay,

        Nor thought of tender happiness betray;

        Who, not content that former worth stand fast,

        Looks forward, persevering to the last,

        From well to better, daily self-surpast:

        Who,