THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



The faith of The theme of the poem, however, is not gold, 

 oyagers. ^^^ ^^ expected miracle of Virtue rich ; it is Pat- 

 riotism, Honour, and the Faith that will risk all for 

 these : 



' But you patrician spirits that refine 

 Your flesh to fire, and issue like a flame 

 On brave endeavours, knowing that in them 

 The tract of heaven in morn-like glory opens ; 

 That know you cannot be the kings of earth. 

 Claiming the rights of your creation, 

 And let the mines of earth be kings of you ; 

 That are so far from doubting likely drifts. 

 That in things hardest y'are most confident : 

 You that know death lives where power lives unused, 

 Joying to shine in waves that bury you, 

 And so make way for life even through your graves, 

 That will not be content with horse to hold 

 A thread-bare beaten way to home affairs ; . . . 

 You that herein renounce the course of earth, 

 And lift your eyes for guidance to the stars. 

 That live not for yourselves, but to possess 

 Your honour'd country of a general store ; . . . 

 You that are blest with sense of all things noble, 

 In this attempt your complete worths redouble/ 



The new The poem closes with a picture of the blissful com- 

 golden world, niunity that is to live on the banks of the Orinoco, 

 and of the new golden world, where peace and plenty 

 reign ; where learning is cherished and valour needs 

 no weapons ; where the old debate between rich and 

 poor is closed for ever : 



* Where healthful recreations strow their meads, 

 And make their mansions dance with neighbourhood, 

 That here were drown'd in churlish avarice.' 



Visions like these became familiar to the imagina- 

 tion of poets when every year was enlarging hope and 

 extending knowledge : 



98 



