The Task: A Poem |
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Page 7
... virtue - The South Sea islanders compassionated , but chiefly Omai - His present state of mind supposed - Civilized life friendly to virtue , but not great cities - Great cities , and Lon- don in particular , allowed their due praise ...
... virtue - The South Sea islanders compassionated , but chiefly Omai - His present state of mind supposed - Civilized life friendly to virtue , but not great cities - Great cities , and Lon- don in particular , allowed their due praise ...
Page 11
... virtues , could alone inspire- Witness a joy that thou hast doubled long . 145 Thou know'st my praise of nature most sincere , 150 And that my raptures are not conjur'd up To serve occasions of poetic pomp , But genuine , and art ...
... virtues , could alone inspire- Witness a joy that thou hast doubled long . 145 Thou know'st my praise of nature most sincere , 150 And that my raptures are not conjur'd up To serve occasions of poetic pomp , But genuine , and art ...
Page 23
... virtue thrives as in her proper soil ; Not rude and surly , and beset with thorns , And terrible to sight , as when she springs , ( If e'er she spring spontaneous , ) in remote And barb'rous climes , where violence prevails , And ...
... virtue thrives as in her proper soil ; Not rude and surly , and beset with thorns , And terrible to sight , as when she springs , ( If e'er she spring spontaneous , ) in remote And barb'rous climes , where violence prevails , And ...
Page 24
... virtue ; and inert 620 Through plenty , lose in morals what they gain In manners - victims of luxurious ease . 625 These therefore I can pity , plac'd remote From all that science traces , art invents , Or inspiration teaches ; and ...
... virtue ; and inert 620 Through plenty , lose in morals what they gain In manners - victims of luxurious ease . 625 These therefore I can pity , plac'd remote From all that science traces , art invents , Or inspiration teaches ; and ...
Page 25
... virtue in the mild And genial soil of cultivated life 655 660 665 670 675 Thrive most , and may perhaps thrive only there , 680 Yet not in cities oft : in proud , and gay , And gain - devoted cities . Thither flow , As to a common and ...
... virtue in the mild And genial soil of cultivated life 655 660 665 670 675 Thrive most , and may perhaps thrive only there , 680 Yet not in cities oft : in proud , and gay , And gain - devoted cities . Thither flow , As to a common and ...
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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...