Poems of William Cowper, Esq |
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Page 21
... fair Of vanity , a wreath for self to wear , Is profanation of the basest kind-- Proof of a trifling and a worthless mind . A. Hail Sternhold , then ; and Hopkins , hail ! →→ B. Amen . If flatt'ry , folly , lust , employ the pen ; If ...
... fair Of vanity , a wreath for self to wear , Is profanation of the basest kind-- Proof of a trifling and a worthless mind . A. Hail Sternhold , then ; and Hopkins , hail ! →→ B. Amen . If flatt'ry , folly , lust , employ the pen ; If ...
Page 28
... fair . Gorgonius sits , abdominous and wan , Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan : He snuffs far off th ' anticipated joy ; Turtle and ven'son all his thoughts employ ; Prepares for meals as jockeys take a sweat , Oh , nauseous ! -an ...
... fair . Gorgonius sits , abdominous and wan , Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan : He snuffs far off th ' anticipated joy ; Turtle and ven'son all his thoughts employ ; Prepares for meals as jockeys take a sweat , Oh , nauseous ! -an ...
Page 30
... fair . The sacred implement I now employ Might prove a mischief , or at best a toy ; A trifle , if it move but to amuse ; But , if to wrong the judgment and abuse , Worse than a poniard in the basest hand , It stabs at once the morals ...
... fair . The sacred implement I now employ Might prove a mischief , or at best a toy ; A trifle , if it move but to amuse ; But , if to wrong the judgment and abuse , Worse than a poniard in the basest hand , It stabs at once the morals ...
Page 31
William Cowper. Who fasten without mercy on the fair , And suck , and leave a craving maggot there ! Howe'er disguis'd th ' inflammatory tale , And cover'd with a fine - spun specious veil ; Such writers , and such readers , owe the gust ...
William Cowper. Who fasten without mercy on the fair , And suck , and leave a craving maggot there ! Howe'er disguis'd th ' inflammatory tale , And cover'd with a fine - spun specious veil ; Such writers , and such readers , owe the gust ...
Page 33
... fair , Fresh'ning his lazy spirits as he ran , Unfolded genially and spread the man ; Returning he proclaims by many a grace , By shrugs and strange contortions of his face , How much a dunce , that has been sent to roam , Excels a ...
... fair , Fresh'ning his lazy spirits as he ran , Unfolded genially and spread the man ; Returning he proclaims by many a grace , By shrugs and strange contortions of his face , How much a dunce , that has been sent to roam , Excels a ...
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Common terms and phrases
Aspasio beauty beneath bids blest boast breath call'd cause charg'd charms death Deist delight design'd distant divine dread dream e'en earth ease ev'ning ev'ry eyes fair fancy fear feel fire flow'r folly form'd frown fruit give glory grace grave hand happy hast heart Heav'n heav'nly honour hope hour human John Gilpin land learn'd light lov'd lyre mankind mercy mind muse nature Nature's Nebaioth never nymph o'er once peace perhaps pine-apples pity plac'd pleas'd pleasure plebeian poet poet's pow'r praise pray'r pride proud prove rapture rest rude sacred scene scorn seek seem'd shade shine sighs sight skies slave smile song soon soul sound stamp'd stand stream sweet taste teach telescopic eye thee theme thine thought TILDEN toil tongue trembling trifler truth Twas virtue waste WILLIAM COWPER wind wisdom worth youth
Popular passages
Page 280 - Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men, Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
Page 400 - I see, The same that oft in childhood solaced me ; Voice only fails, else how distinct they say, " Grieve not, my child, chase all thy fears away!
Page 401 - I heard the bell tolled on thy burial day, I saw the hearse that bore thee slow away, And, turning from my nursery window, drew A long, long sigh, and wept a last adieu ! But was it such ? It was. Where thou art gone Adieus and farewells are a sound unknown : May I but meet thee on that peaceful shore, The parting word shall pass my lips no more...
Page 298 - One song employs all nations: and all cry, " Worthy the Lamb, for He was slain for us! " The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks Shout to each other, and the mountain-tops From distant mountains catch the flying joy : Till, nation after nation taught the strain, Earth rolls the rapturous Hosanna round.
Page 337 - How fleet is a glance of the mind! Compared with the speed of its flight, The tempest itself lags behind. And the swift-winged arrows of light. When I think of my own native land, In a moment I seem to be there; But alas! recollection at hand Soon hurries me back to despair.
Page 185 - Make enemies of nations, who had else, Like kindred drops been mingled into one. Thus man devotes his brother, and destroys...
Page 231 - And having dropped the expected bag, pass on. He whistles as he goes, light-hearted wretch, • Cold and yet cheerful ; messenger of grief Perhaps to thousands, and of joy to some ; To him indifferent whether grief or joy. Houses in ashes, and the fall of stocks...
Page 271 - Patriots have toiled, and in their country's cause Bled nobly ; and their deeds, as they deserve, Receive proud recompense. We give in charge Their names to the sweet lyre. The historic muse, Proud of the treasure, marches with it down To latest times ; and sculpture, in her turn, Gives bond in stone and ever-during brass To guard them, and t...
Page 378 - The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Like streamer long and gay, Till loop and button failing both At last it flew away. Then might all people well discern The bottles he had slung, A bottle swinging at each side As hath been said or sung. The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, Up flew the windows all, And every soul cried out, Well done ! As loud as he could bawl.
Page 402 - I would not trust my heart — the dear delight Seems so to be desired, perhaps I might — But no — what here we call our life is such, So little to be loved, and thou so much, That I should ill requite thee to constrain Thy unbound spirit into bonds again.