22 MAY 1915, Page 12

"SORS WORDSWORTHIENSIS."

[To roe Damn or vas "Srrersros."3

SIR,—Some of your readers, depressed by recent German

successes, may possibly find comfort in a Sors Words-

worthiensis. The lines are from the fourth book of Tile Excursion, and were perhaps written while the news of Austerlitz or Jena was fresh:—

"The law, By which mankind now suffers, is moat just.

For by superior energies; more strict

Affiance in each other ; faith more firm In their unhallowed principles ; the bad Have fairly earned a victory o'er the weak, The vacillating, inconsistent good.

Therefore, not =consoled, I wait—in hope To see the moment when the righteous cause Shall gain defenders zealous and devout As they who have opposed her."

Napoleon inflicted for more crushing defeats on the armies of the Coalition than the Allies have yet suffered at the hands of Germany ; but Leipsio and Waterloo came at last.—I am,