SONNETS
UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH
XIV. APOLOGY
SONNETS
UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH
THE formal World relaxes her cold chain For One who speaks in numbers; ampler scope His utterance finds; and, conscious of the gain, Imagination works with bolder hope The cause of grateful reason to sustain; And, serving Truth, the heart more strongly beats Against all barriers which his labour meets In lofty place, or humble Life’s domain. Enough;–before us lay a painful road, And guidance have I sought in duteous love 10 From Wisdom’s heavenly Father. Hence hath flowed Patience, with trust that, whatsoe’er the way Each takes in this high matter, all may move Cheered with the prospect of a brighter day.