Disease consumed thy vitals; War upheaved 10
The ground beneath thee with volcanic force:
Dread trials! yet encountered and sustained
Till not a wreck of help or hope remained,
And law was from necessity[1] received.[B]

See note to the sonnet beginning "And is it among rude untutored Dales"
(p. 222). "Saragossa surrendered February 20, 1809, after a heroic
defence, which may recall the sieges of Numantiaor Saguntum. Every
street, almost every house, had been hotly contested; the monks, and
even the women, had taken a conspicuous share in the defence; more than
40,000 bodies of both sexes and every age testified to the obstinate
courage of the besieged." (See Dyer's _History of Modern Europe_, vol.
iv. p. 496.)--ED.

VARIANTS:

[1] The word "necessity" was _italicised_ in the editions of 1815 to
1843.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Compare a passage in Wordsworth's Essay _Concerning the Convention
of Cintra_ (1809, pp. 180-1), beginning "Most gloriously have the
Citizens of Saragossa proved that the true army of Spain, in a contest
of this nature, is the whole people."--ED.

[B] The beginning is imitated from an Italian Sonnet.--W. W. 1815.

In 1837 Wordsworth put it thus, "In this Sonnet I am under some
obligations to one of an Italian author, to which I cannot refer." But
it is to be noted that in the edition of 1837, this note does not refer
to the sonnet on Saragossa, but to that beginning "O, for a kindling
touch from that pure flame," belonging to the year 1816. In subsequent
editions the note is reappended to this sonnet beginning "Hail,
Zaragoza!"--ED.

"SAY, WHAT IS HONOUR?--'TIS THE FINEST SENSE"

Composed 1809.--Published 1815

Say, what is Honour?--'Tis the finest sense
Of _justice_ which the human mind can frame,
Intent each lurking frailty to disclaim,
And guard the way of life from all offence
Suffered or done. When lawless violence 5
Invades a Realm, so pressed that in the scale[1]
Of perilous war her weightiest armies fail,
Honour is hopeful elevation,--whence
Glory, and triumph. Yet with politic skill
Endangered States may yield to terms unjust; 10
Stoop their proud heads, but not unto the dust--
A Foe's most favourite purpose to fulfil:
Happy occasions oft by self-mistrust
Are forfeited; but infamy doth kill.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1837.

A Kingdom do