YE brood of conscience--Spectres! that frequent <br />The bad Man's restless walk, and haunt his bed-- <br />Fiends in your aspect, yet beneficent <br />In act, as hovering Angels when they spread <br />Their wings to guard the unconscious Innocent-- <br />Slow be the Statutes of the land to share <br />A laxity that could not but impair <br />'Your' power to punish crime, and so prevent. <br />And ye, Beliefs! coiled serpent-like about <br />The adage on all tongues, 'Murder will out,' <br />How shall your ancient warnings work for good <br />In the full might they hitherto have shown, <br />If for deliberate shedder of man's blood <br />Survive not Judgment that requires his own?<br /><br />William Wordsworth<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/upon-the-punishment-of-death/
