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?
[202] “The sixth sonnet adverts to the effect of the law in preventing the crime of murder, not merely by fear, but by horror, by investing the crime itself with the colouring of dark and terrible imaginations.” (Sir Henry Taylor.)—Ed.
[203] See Chaucer, The Nonnes Priestes Tale, l. 232.—Ed.
VII
“BEFORE THE WORLD HAD PAST HER TIME OF YOUTH”
Before the world had past her time of youth
While polity and discipline were weak,
The precept eye for eye, and tooth for tooth,