Poetry Catalog

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Poems

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – VIII – Fit Retribution, By The Moral Code, By: William Wordsworth

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Fit retribution, by the moral codeDetermined, lies beyond the State's embrace,Yet, as she may, for each peculiar caseShe plants well-measured terrors in the roadOf wrongful acts. Downward it is and broad,And, the main fear once doomed to banishment,Far oftener then, bad ushering worse event,Blood would be spilt that in his dark abodeCrime might lie better hid. And, should the … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – VIII – Fit Retribution, By The Moral Code, By: William Wordsworth

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – VII – Before The World Had Past Her Time Of Youth, By: William Wordsworth

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Before the world had past her time of youthWhile polity and discipline were weak,The precept eye for eye, and tooth for tooth,Came forth a light, though but as of daybreak,Strong as could then be borne. A Master meekProscribed the spirit fostered by that rule,Patience 'his' law, long-suffering 'his' school,And love the end, which all through peace must seek.But lamentably do … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – VII – Before The World Had Past Her Time Of Youth, By: William Wordsworth

Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – VI – Ye Brood Of Conscience Spectres!, By: William Wordsworth

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Ye brood of conscience Spectres! that frequentThe bad Man's restless walk, and haunt his bedFiends in your aspect, yet beneficentIn act, as hovering Angels when they spreadTheir wings to guard the unconscious InnocentSlow be the Statutes of the land to shareA laxity that could not but impair'Your' power to punish crime, and so prevent.And ye, Beliefs! coiled serpent-like … [Read more...] about Sonnets Upon The Punishment Of Death – In Series, 1839 – VI – Ye Brood Of Conscience Spectres!, By: William Wordsworth

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