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;
collapse section 
ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS.
expand sectionI. 
PART I. FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO BRITAIN, TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE PAPAL DOMINION.
expand sectionII. 
PART II. TO THE CLOSE OF THE TROUBLES IN THE REIGN OF CHARLES I.
collapse sectionIII. 
PART III. FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE PRESENT TIMES.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II. PATRIOTIC SYMPATHIES.
 III. 
III. CHARLES THE SECOND.
 IV. 
IV. LATITUDINARIANISM.
 V. 
V. WALTON'S BOOK OF LIVES.
 VI. 
VI. CLERICAL INTEGRITY.
 VII. 
VII. PERSECUTION OF THE SCOTTISH COVENANTERS.
 VIII. 
VIII. ACQUITTAL OF THE BISHOPS.
 IX. 
IX. WILLIAM THE THIRD.
 X. 
X. OBLIGATIONS OF CIVIL TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
 XI. 
XI. SACHEVEREL.
 XII. 
XII.
expand section 
ASPECTS OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII. PLACES OF WORSHIP.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. PASTORAL CHARACTER.
 XIX. 
XIX. THE LITURGY.
 XX. 
XX. BAPTISM.
 XXI. 
XXI. SPONSORS.
 XXII. 
XXII. CATECHISING.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. CONFIRMATION.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. CONFIRMATION CONTINUED.
 XXV. 
XXV. SACRAMENT.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. THANKSGIVING AFTER CHILDBIRTH.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. VISITATION OF THE SICK.
 XXIX. 
XXIX. THE COMMINATION SERVICE.
 XXX. 
XXX. FORMS OF PRAYER AT SEA.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. FUNERAL SERVICE.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. RURAL CEREMONY .
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. REGRETS.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. MUTABILITY.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. OLD ABBEYS.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. EMIGRANT FRENCH CLERGY.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. CONGRATULATION.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. NEW CHURCHES.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. CHURCH TO BE ERECTED.
 XL. 
XL. [CHURCH TO BE ERECTED.] CONTINUED.
 XLI. 
XLI. NEW CHURCH-YARD.
 XLII. 
XLII. CATHEDRALS, ETC.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. THE SAME. [INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.]
 XLV. 
XLV. [INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.]: CONTINUED.
 XLVI. 
XLVI. EJACULATION.
  
XLVII. CONCLUSION.
expand section 
EVENING VOLUNTARIES.
expand section 
POEMS, COMPOSED OR SUGGESTED DURING A TOUR, IN THE SUMMER OF 1833.
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
268

VI.

[Ye brood of conscience—Spectres! that frequent]

Ye brood of conscience—Spectres! that frequent
The bad man's restless walk, and haunt his bed—
Fiends in your aspect, yet beneficent
In act, as hovering Angels when they spread
Their wings to guard the unconscious Innocent—
Slow be the Statutes of the land to share
A laxity that could not but impair
Your power to punish crime, and so prevent.
And ye, Beliefs! coiled serpent-like about
The adage on all tongues, “Murder will out,”
How shall your ancient warnings work for good
In the full might they hitherto have shown,
If for deliberate shedder of man's blood
Survive not Judgment that requires his own?
previous section The poetical works of William Wordsworth
next section