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Helen Darbishire and Ernest De Selincourt (eds), The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Vol. 4: Evening Voluntaries; Itinerary Poems of 1833; Poems of Sentiment and Reflection; Sonnets Dedicated to Liberty and Order; Miscellaneous Poems; Inscriptions; Selections From Chaucer; Poems Referring to the Period of Old Age; Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces; Ode-Intimations of Immortality (Second Edition)
Main Text
Editor’s Notepg 130Editor’s NoteV
in allusion to various recent histories and notices of the french revolution
[Composed?.—Published: vol. of 1842.]
- Critical Apparatus1Portentous change when History can appear
- 2As the cool Advocate of foul device;
- 3Reckless audacity extol, and jeer
- 4At consciences perplexed with scruples nice!
- 5They who bewail not, must abhor, the sneer
- 6Born of Conceit, Power's blind Idolater;
- 7Or haply sprung from vaunting Cowardice
- 8Betrayed by mockery of holy fear.
- Editor’s Note9Hath it not long been said the wrath of Man
- 10Works not the righteousness of God? Oh bend,
- 11Bend, ye Perverse! to judgments from on High,
- 12Laws that lay under Heaven's perpetual ban
- 13All principles of action that transcend
- 14The sacred limits of humanity.
Editor’s Note
p. 130. V. In Allusion to various Recent Histories: Carlyle's French Revolution had appeared in 1837.
Critical Apparatus
V. 1–2
MS.
- can leer
- With prurient levity on foul device
Editor’s Note
9–10. the wrath of Man Works not the righteousness of God] Epistle of St. James, i. 20.
