fen quotes

'He's supposed to have a particularly high-class style: ''Feather footed through the plashy fen passes the questing vole''†would that be it?' 'Yes,'said the Managing Editor.'That must be good style.'

- Evelyn Arthur StJohn Waugh
  Scoop, bk.1, ch.1.

  Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness.We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

-William Wordsworth
  'Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour', complete poem (published1807).