SONNET BY WORDSWORTH, ON STEAM BOATS, VIADUCTS, AND RAILWAYS.

Motions and means, on land and sea at war With old poetic feeling; not for this, Shall ye, by Poets even, be judged amiss! Nor shall your presence, howsoe’er it mar The loveliness of nature, prove a bar To the mind’s gaining that prophetic sense Of future change that point of vision, whence May be discover’d what in soul ye are. In spite of all that beauty may disown In your harsh features, Nature doth embrace Her lawful offspring in Man’s art; and Time, Pleased with your triumphs o’er his brother Space, Accepts from your bold hands the proffer’d crown Of hope, and smiles on you with cheer sublime.