THE KING OF SWEDEN

By William Wordsworth

The Voice of song from distant lands shall call

To that greatKing; shall hail the crownèd Youth

Who, taking counsel of unbending Truth,

By one example hath set forth to all

How they with dignity may stand; or fall,

If fall they must. Now, whither doth it tend?

And what to him and his shall be the end?

That thought is one which neither can appal

Nor cheer him; for the illustrious Swede hath done

The thing which ought to be; is raised above

All consequences: work he hath begun

Of fortitude, and piety, and love,

Which all his glorious ancestors approve:

The heroes bless him, him their rightful son.