The Task: A Poem |
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Page 13
... e'en the boding owl , That hails the rising moon , have charms for me , Sounds inharmonious in themselves and harsh , Yet heard in scenes where peace for ever reigns , And only there , please highly for their sake . Peace to the artist ...
... e'en the boding owl , That hails the rising moon , have charms for me , Sounds inharmonious in themselves and harsh , Yet heard in scenes where peace for ever reigns , And only there , please highly for their sake . Peace to the artist ...
Page 15
... e'en a few , Few transient years , won from th ' abyss abhorr'd Of blank oblivion , seem a glorious prize , And even to a clown . Now roves the eye ; And , posted on this speculative height , Exults in its command . The sheepfold here ...
... e'en a few , Few transient years , won from th ' abyss abhorr'd Of blank oblivion , seem a glorious prize , And even to a clown . Now roves the eye ; And , posted on this speculative height , Exults in its command . The sheepfold here ...
Page 17
... e'en the oak Thrives by the rude concussion of the storm : He seems indeed indignant , and to feel Th ' impression of the blast with proud disdain , Frowning , as if in his unconscious arm He held the thunder : but the monarch owes His ...
... e'en the oak Thrives by the rude concussion of the storm : He seems indeed indignant , and to feel Th ' impression of the blast with proud disdain , Frowning , as if in his unconscious arm He held the thunder : but the monarch owes His ...
Page 18
... e'en the rest he loves . Not suck the alert and active . Measure life By its true worth , the comforts it affords , And theirs alone seems worthy of the name . Good health , and its associate in the most , Good temper ; spirits prompt ...
... e'en the rest he loves . Not suck the alert and active . Measure life By its true worth , the comforts it affords , And theirs alone seems worthy of the name . Good health , and its associate in the most , Good temper ; spirits prompt ...
Page 20
... e'en these Themselves love life , and cling to it , as he 465 470 475 480 That overhangs a torrent , to a twig . They love it , and yet loathe it ; fear to die , 485 Yet scorn the purposes for which they live . Then wherefore not ...
... e'en these Themselves love life , and cling to it , as he 465 470 475 480 That overhangs a torrent , to a twig . They love it , and yet loathe it ; fear to die , 485 Yet scorn the purposes for which they live . Then wherefore not ...
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Common terms and phrases
beauty beneath boast breath call'd cause charg'd charms clime death Deciduous delight distant divine domestick dream e'en earth ease ev'ning ev'ry fair fancy fast favour'd fear feeds feel field of glory fix'd flow'rs folly form'd fountain of eternal frown fruit gives glory grace grave groves hand happy heart Heav'n honour hopes and fears Hosanna human king labour learn'd less liberty lost lov'd lyre magick mercy Mighty winds mind mov'd musick nature Nature's Nebaioth never nymphs o'er once peace perhaps pleas'd pleasures polish'd pow'r praise proud publick rapture riddance rude rural sacred sake scene seek seem'd shade shine sighs silent sleep sloth smiles Sofa soft song soon soul sound spleen stream sweet sycophant task taste thee theme thine thou art toil touch'd trembling truth Twas vale virtue wand'ring weary wind winter wisdom worthy
Popular passages
Page 30 - I would not have a slave to till my ground, To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd.
Page 30 - Slaves cannot breathe in England ; if their lungs Receive our air, that moment they are free ; They touch our country, and their shackles fall.
Page 77 - Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And while the bubbling and loud-hissing urn Throws up a steamy column, and the cups, That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, So let us welcome peaceful evening in.
Page 40 - Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too; affectionate in look, ** And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of grace to guilty men.
Page 144 - 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 55 - My panting side was charged, when I withdrew To seek a tranquil death in distant shades. There was I found by one who had Himself Been hurt by th
Page 12 - Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds, Exhilarate the spirit, and restore The tone of languid Nature. Mighty winds, That sweep the skirt of some far-spreading wood Of ancient growth, make music not unlike The dash of ocean on his winding shore, And lull the spirit while they fill the mind; Unnumber'd branches waving in the blast, And all their leaves fast flutt'ring, all at once.
Page 16 - Some glossy-leaved, and shining in the sun, The maple, and the beech of oily nuts Prolific, and the lime at dewy eve Diffusing odours ; nor unnoted pass The sycamore, capricious in attire, Now green, now tawny, and ere autumn yet Have changed the woods, in scarlet honours bright.
Page 125 - The season smiles, resigning all its rage, And has the warmth of May. The vault is blue Without a cloud, and white without a speck The dazzling splendour of the scene below.
Page 79 - Than those of age, thy forehead wrapp'd in clouds, A leafless branch thy sceptre, and thy throne A sliding car, indebted to no wheels, But urged by storms along its slippery way, I love thee, all unlovely as thou seem'st, And dreaded as thou art...