IS 'Death', when evil against good has fought With such fell mastery that a man may dare By deeds the blackest purpose to lay bare? Is Death, for one to that condition brought, For him, or any one, the thing that ought To be 'most' dreaded? Lawgivers, beware, Lest, capital pains remitting till ye spare The murderer, ye, by sanction to that thought Seemingly given, debase the general mind; Tempt the vague will tried standards to disown, Nor only palpable restraints unbind, But upon Honour's head disturb the crown, Whose absolute rule permits not to withstand In the weak love of life his least command. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET (ON AN OLD BOOK WITH UNCUT LEAVES) by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR FLANNAN ISLE by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON THE WILD RIDE by LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY TASTING THE EARTH by JAMES OPPENHEIM THE V-A-S-E by JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE FIRST-DAY THOUGHTS by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER LUCY (1) by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |