English poem
“Our Bodily Life, Some Plead, That Life The Shrine”
Our bodily life, some plead, that life the shrine Of an immortal spirit, is a gift So sacred, so informed with light divine, That no tribunal, though most wise to sift Deed and intent, should turn the Being adrift Into that world where penitential tear May not avail, nor prayer have for God’s ear A voice--that world whose veil no hand can lift For earthly sight. “Eternity and Time” They urge, “have interwoven claims and rights Not to be jeopardised through foulest crime: The sentence rule by mercy’s heaven-born lights.” Even so; but measuring not by finite sense Infinite Power, perfect Intelligence.
More by William Wordsworth
- “Near Anio’S Stream, I Spied A Gentle Dove”
- “Not To The Object Specially Designed”
- “Oh Bounty Without Measure, While The Grace”
- “Oh What A Wreck! How Changed In Mien And Speech!”
- “Peaceful Our Valley, Fair And Green”
- “Proud Were Ye, Mountains, When, In Times Of Old”
- “Said Red-Ribboned Evans”
- “Said Secrecy To Cowardice And Fraud”