Religion

Woodspring Abbey, 1836

by William Lisle Bowles 1762–1850

From Sonnets

Religion

These walls were built by men who did a deed
Of blood:--terrific conscience, day by day,
Followed, where'er their shadow seemed to stay,
And still in thought they saw their victim bleed,
Before God's altar shrieking: pangs succeed,
As dire upon their heart the deep sin lay,
No tears of agony could wash away:
Hence! to the land's remotest limit, speed!
These walls are raised in vain, as vainly flows
Contrition's tear: Earth, hide them, and thou, Sea,
Which round the lone isle, where their bones repose,
Dost sound for ever, their sad requiem be,
In fancy's ear, at pensive evening's close,
Still murmuring MISERERE, DOMINE.

MLA

Bowles, William Lisle. “Woodspring Abbey, 1836.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bowles/34/.

Chicago

Bowles, William Lisle. “Woodspring Abbey, 1836.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bowles/34/.

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