Blest Statesman He, whose Mind’s unselfish will Leaves him[191] at ease among grand thoughts: whose eye Sees that, apart from magnanimity, Wisdom exists not; nor the humbler skill Of Prudence, disentangling good and ill 5 With patient care. What tho’[192] assaults run high, They daunt not him who holds his ministry, Resolute, at all hazards, to fulfil Its[193] duties;--prompt to move, but firm to wait,-- Knowing, things rashly sought are rarely found; 10 That, for[194] the functions of an ancient State-- Strong by her charters, free because imbound, Servant of Providence, not slave of Fate-- Perilous is sweeping change, all chance unsound.[195] [191] 1842. … her C. and 1838. [192] 1838. … if C. [193] 1838. His C. [194] 1838. … in C. [195] All change is perilous, and all chance unsound. SPENSER.--W.W. 1838. The passage will be found in _The Faërie Queene_, book v. canto xii. stanza 36.--ED. VALEDICTORY SONNET[196] Composed 1838.--Published 1838 One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. Serving no haughty Muse, my hands have here Disposed some cultured Flowerets (drawn from spots Where they bloomed singly, or in scattered knots), Each kind in several beds of one parterre; Both to allure the casual Loiterer, 5 And that, so placed, my Nurslings may requite Studious regard with opportune delight, Nor be unthanked, unless I fondly err. But metaphor dismissed, and thanks apart, Reader, farewell! My last words let them be-- 10 If in this book Fancy and Truth agree; If simple Nature trained by careful Art Through It have won a passage to thy heart; Grant me thy love, I crave no other fee! [196] This closed the volume of sonnets published in 1838.--ED. 1839 The fourteen “Sonnets upon the Punishment of Death” were originally published in the _Quarterly Review_ (in December 1841), in an article on the “Sonnets of William Wordsworth” by the late Sir Henry Taylor, author of _Philip van Artevelde_, and other poems. Towards the close of this article (of 1841), after reviewing the volume of Sonnets published in 1838, Sir Henry adds, “There is a short series _written two years ago_, which we have been favoured with permission to present to the public for the first time. It was suggested by the recent discussions in Parliament, and elsewhere, on the subject of the ‘Punishment of Death.’” When republishing this and other critical Essays on Poetry, in the collected edition of his works in 1878, Sir Henry omitted the paragraphs relating to these particular sonnets. Wordsworth published the sonnets in his volume of “Poems chiefly of Early and Late Years,” in 1842.--ED. SONNETS UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH IN SERIES Composed 1839.--Published 1841