University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The poetical works of William Wordsworth

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

expand sectionI. 
VOL. I.
expand sectionII. 
VOL. II.
expand sectionIII. 
VOL. III.
collapse sectionIV. 
VOL. IV.
expand section 
THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE;
expand section 
ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS.
expand section 
EVENING VOLUNTARIES.
collapse section 
POEMS, COMPOSED OR SUGGESTED DURING A TOUR, IN THE SUMMER OF 1833.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV. TO THE RIVER GRETA, NEAR KESWICK.
 V. 
V. TO THE RIVER DERWENT.
 VI. 
VI. IN SIGHT OF THE TOWN OF COCKERMOUTH.
 VII. 
VII. ADDRESS FROM THE SPIRIT OF COCKERMOUTH CASTLE.
 VIII. 
VIII. NUN'S WELL, BRIGHAM.
 IX. 
IX. TO A FRIEND.
 X. 
X. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
 XI. 
XI. STANZAS SUGGESTED IN A STEAM-BOAT OFF SAINT BEES' HEADS, ON THE COAST OF CUMBERLAND.
 XII. 
XII. IN THE CHANNEL, BETWEEN THE COAST OF CUMBERLAND AND THE ISLE OF MAN.
 XIII. 
XIII. AT SEA OFF THE ISLE OF MAN.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV. ON ENTERING DOUGLAS BAY, ISLE OF MAN.
 XVI. 
XVI. BY THE SEA-SHORE, ISLE OF MAN.
 XVII. 
XVII. ISLE OF MAN.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. ISLE OF MAN.
 XIX. 
XIX. BY A RETIRED MARINER.
 XX. 
XX. AT BALA-SALA, ISLE OF MAN.
 XXI. 
XXI. TYNWALD HILL.
 XXII. 
XXII.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. IN THE FRITH OF CLYDE, AILSA CRAG.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. ON THE FRITH OF CLYDE.
 XXV. 
XXV. ON REVISITING DUNOLLY CASTLE.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE DUNOLLY EAGLE.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. WRITTEN IN A BLANK LEAF OF MACPHERSON'S OSSIAN.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. CAVE OF STAFFA.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. CAVE OF STAFFA.
 XXX. 
XXX. CAVE OF STAFFA.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. FLOWERS ON THE TOP OF THE PILLARS AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. IONA.
 XXIII. 
XXXIII. IONA.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. THE BLACK STONES OF IONA.
 XXXV. 
XXXV.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. GREENOCK.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. THE RIVER EDEN, CUMBERLAND.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. MONUMENT OF MRS. HOWARD,
 XL. 
XL. SUGGESTED BY THE FOREGOING.
 XLI. 
XLI. NUNNERY.
 XLII. 
XLII. STEAMBOATS, VIADUCTS, AND RAILWAYS.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. THE MONUMENT COMMONLY CALLED LONG MEG AND HER DAUGHTERS, NEAR THE RIVER EDEN.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. LOWTHER.
 XLV. 
XLV. TO THE EARL OF LONSDALE.
 XLVI. 
XLVI. THE SOMNAMBULIST.
 XLVII. 
XLVII. TO CORDELIA M---
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII.
expand section 
POEMS OF SENTIMENT AND REFLECTION.
expand section 
SONNETS DEDICATED TO LIBERTY AND ORDER.
expand section 
SONNETS UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
expand sectionV. 
VOL. V.
expand sectionVI. 
[volume]

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The poetical works of William Wordsworth
next section
266

II.

[Tenderly do we feel by Nature's law]

Tenderly do we feel by Nature's law
For worst offenders: though the heart will heave
With indignation, deeply moved we grieve,
In after thought, for Him who stood in awe
Neither of God nor man, and only saw,
Lost wretch, a horrible device enthroned
On proud temptations, till the victim groaned
Under the steel his hand had dared to draw.
But O, restrain compassion, if its course,
As oft befals, prevent or turn aside
Judgments and aims and acts whose higher source
Is sympathy with the unforewarned, who died
Blameless—with them that shuddered o'er his grave,
And all who from the law firm safety crave.
previous section The poetical works of William Wordsworth
next section