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The poetical works of William Wordsworth

... In six volumes ... A new edition
Wordsworth, William (1770-1850)

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VOL. I.
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VOL. II.
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VOL. III.
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MEMORIALS OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND. 1803.
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MEMORIALS OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND. 1814.
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POEMS DEDICATED TO NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND LIBERTY.
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PART I.
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PART II.
 I. 
I. ON A CELEBRATED EVENT IN ANCIENT HISTORY.
 II. 
II. UPON THE SAME EVENT.
 III. 
III. TO THOMAS CLARKSON, ON THE FINAL PASSING OF THE BILL FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. MARCH, 1807.
 IV. 
IV. A PROPHECY. FEBRUARY, 1807.
 V. 
V. COMPOSED BY THE SIDE OF GRASMERE LAKE. 1807.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII. COMPOSED WHILE THE AUTHOR WAS ENGAGED IN WRITING A TRACT, OCCASIONED BY THE CONVENTION OF CINTRA.
 VIII. 
VIII. COMPOSED AT THE SAME TIME AND ON THE SAME OCCASION.
 IX. 
IX. HOFFER.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI. FEELINGS OF THE TYROLESE.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV. ON THE FINAL SUBMISSION OF THE TYROLESE.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX.
 XXI. 
XXI.
 XXII. 
XXII.
 XXIII. 
XXIII.
 XXIV. 
XXIV.
 XXV. 
XXV. FEELINGS OF A NOBLE BISCAYAN AT ONE OF THOSE FUNERALS.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE OAK OF GUERNICA.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. INDIGNATION OF A HIGH-MINDED SPANIARD.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII.
 XXIX. 
XXIX.
 XXX. 
XXX. THE FRENCH AND THE SPANISH GUERILLAS.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. SPANISH GUERILLAS.
 XXXII. 
XXXII.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. THE FRENCH ARMY IN RUSSIA.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. ON THE SAME OCCASION.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. THE GERMANS ON THE HEIGHTS OF HOCK HEIM.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII.
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XXXIX. ODE.
 XL. 
XL. FEELINGS OF A FRENCH ROYALIST, ON THE DISINTERMENT OF THE REMAINS OF THE DUKE D'ENGHIEN.
 XLI. 
XLI. OCCASIONED BY THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.
 XLII. 
XLII. SIEGE OF VIENNA RAISED BY JOHN SOBIESKI.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. OCCASIONED BY THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.
 XLIV. 
XLIV.
 XLV. 
XLV. ODE.
 XLVI. 
XLVI. ODE.
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MEMORIALS OF A TOUR ON THE CONTINENT. 1820.
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MEMORIALS OF A TOUR IN ITALY. 1837.
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THE RIVER DUDDON.
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YARROW REVISITED, AND OTHER POEMS,
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VOL. IV.
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VOL. V.
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[volume]

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78

XVII.

[Say, what is Honour?—'Tis the finest sense]

Say, what is Honour?—'Tis the finest sense
Of justice which the human mind can frame,
Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim,
And guard the way of life from all offence
Suffered or done. When lawless violence
Invades a Realm, so pressed that in the scale
Of perilous war her weightiest armies fail,
Honour is hopeful elevation,—whence
Glory, and triumph. Yet with politic skill
Endangered States may yield to terms unjust;
Stoop their proud heads, but not unto the dust—
A Foe's most favourite purpose to fulfil:
Happy occasions oft by self-mistrust
Are forfeited; but infamy doth kill.
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