Kent

Kent is a county in the South East England region, the closest county to continental Europe. It borders Essex across the entire estuary of the River Thames to the north; the French department of Pas-de-Calais across the Strait of Dover to the south-east; East Sussex to the south-west; Surrey to the west and Greater London to the north-west. The county town is Maidstone.

Quotes

• Fair Kent, ...
  What countrie hath this isle that may compare with thee?
  • Michael Drayton, Poly-Olbion, Part I, Song 18
  • Frank W. Jessup, A History of Kent (1958), p. 183;
    Richard Church, The Little Kingdom (1964), p. 124

• Ye scenes, my melancholy soul that fill!
  Where Nature’s voice no crowds tumultuous drown,
  And but through brakes of trees, the lawns that crown,
  The paths of men are seen; and farther still,
  Scarce peeps the city-spire o’er many a hill;
  Your green retreats, lone walks, and shadows brown,
  While sheep feed round beneath the branches’ frown,
  Shall calm my mind and holy thoughts instil.—
  What though with passion oft my trembling frame
  Each real and each fancied wrong inflame,
  Wandering alone I here my thoughts reclaim:
  Resentment sinks, Disgust within me dies;
  And Charity and meek Forgiveness rise,
  And melt my soul, and overflow my eyes.
  • Sir Egerton Brydges, "Sonnet, Written at Wootton, August 16, 1784"
  • Autobiography of Sir Egerton Brydges, Vol. I (1834), p. 219

• Vanguard of Liberty, ye Men of Kent,
  Ye Children of a Soil that doth advance
  Her haughty brow against the coast of France,
  Now is the time to prove your hardiment!
  To France be words of invitation sent!
  They from their Fields can see the countenance
  Of your fierce war, may ken the glittering lance
  And hear you shouting forth your brave intent.
  Left single, in bold parley, Ye, of yore,
  Did from the Norman win a gallant wreath;
  Confirmed the charters that were yours before;—
  No parleying now! In Britain is one breath;
  We all are with you now from Shore to Shore:—
  Ye Men of Kent, 'tis Victory or Death!
  • William Wordsworth, "To the Men of Kent. October, 1803"
  • Poems, in Two Volumes, Vol. I (1807), p. 157