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Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – V – Not To The Object Specially Designed, By: William Wordsworth

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Not to the object specially designed,Howe'er momentous in itself it be,Good to promote or curb depravity,Is the wise Legislator's view confined.His Spirit, when most severe, is oft most kind;As all Authority in earth dependsOn Love and Fear, their several powers he blends,Copying with awe the one Paternal mind.Uncaught by processes in show humane,He feels how far the act would … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – V – Not To The Object Specially Designed, By: William Wordsworth

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – IV – Is ‘Death’, When Evil Against Good Has Fought, By: William Wordsworth

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Is 'Death', when evil against good has foughtWith such fell mastery that a man may dareBy deeds the blackest purpose to lay bare?Is Death, for one to that condition brought,For him, or any one, the thing that oughtTo be 'most' dreaded? Lawgivers, beware,Lest, capital pains remitting till ye spareThe murderer, ye, by sanction to that thoughtSeemingly given, debase the general … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – IV – Is ‘Death’, When Evil Against Good Has Fought, By: William Wordsworth

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – III – The Roman Consul Doomed His Sons To Die, By: William Wordsworth

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The Roman Consul doomed his sons to dieWho had betrayed their country. The stern wordAfforded (may it through all time afford)A theme for praise and admiration high.Upon the surface of humanityHe rested not; its depths his mind explored;He felt; but his parental bosom's lordWas Duty, Duty calmed his agony.And some, we know, when they by willful actA single human life have … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – III – The Roman Consul Doomed His Sons To Die, By: William Wordsworth

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – II – Tenderly Do We Feel By Nature’s Law, By: William Wordsworth

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Tenderly do we feel by Nature's lawFor worst offenders: though the heart will heaveWith indignation, deeply moved we grieve,In after thought, for Him who stood in aweNeither of God nor man, and only saw,Lost wretch, a horrible device enthronedOn proud temptations, till the victim groanedUnder the steel his hand had dared to draw.But oh, restrain compassion, if its course,As oft … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – II – Tenderly Do We Feel By Nature’s Law, By: William Wordsworth

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – XIV – Apology, By: William Wordsworth

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The formal World relaxes her cold chainFor One who speaks in numbers; ampler scopeHis utterance finds; and, conscious of the gain,Imagination works with bolder hopeThe cause of grateful reason to sustain;And, serving Truth, the heart more strongly beatsAgainst all barriers which his labour meetsIn lofty place, or humble Life's domain.Enough; before us lay a painful road,And … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – XIV – Apology, By: William Wordsworth