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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

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – XIII – Conclusion – Yes, Though He Well May Tremble At The Sound, By: William Wordsworth

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Yes, though He well may tremble at the soundOf his own voice, who from the judgment-seatSends the pale Convict to his last retreatIn death; though Listeners shudder all around,They know the dread requital's source profound;Nor is, they feel, its wisdom obsolete(Would that it were!) the sacrifice unmeetFor Christian Faith. But hopeful signs abound;The social rights of man … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – XIII – Conclusion – Yes, Though He Well May Tremble At The Sound, By: William Wordsworth