Of old sat Freedom on the heights
Of old sat Freedom on the heights - fact Summary
Tennyson on Liberty Personified
Tennyson personifies Freedom as a lofty, quasi-divine figure who descends from the heights to mingle with humanity and reveal truth and wisdom. The poem praises Freedom as a grave, maternal power—both prophet and monarch—whose clear, enduring sight should remain unclouded. It ends with a wish that her presence will brighten life and reject extremism. The poem reflects Tennyson’s views on freedom and his public poetic role.
Read Complete AnalysesOf old sat Freedom on the heights, The thunders breaking at her feet: Above her shook the starry lights: She heard the torrents meet. There in her place she did rejoice, Self-gather’d in her prophet-mind, But fragments of her mighty voice Came rolling on the wind. Then stept she down thro’ town and field To mingle with the human race, And part by part to men reveal’d The fullness of her face— Grave mother of majestic works, From her isle-altar gazing down, Who, God-like, grasps the triple forks, And, King-like, wears the crown: Her open eyes desire the truth. The wisdom of a thousand years Is in them. May perpetual youth Keep dry their light from tears; That her fair form may stand and shine, Make bright our days and light our dreams, Turning to scorn with lips divine The falsehood of extremes!
First published in 1842, but it seems to have been written in 1834. The fourth and fifth stanzas are given in a postscript of a letter from Tennyson to James Spedding, dated 1834.
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