Poems, by William Cowper, Esq: Together with His Posthumous Poetry, and a Sketch of His Life by John Johnson, Volume 1E. Littlefield, 1841 |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 32
Page 16
... themes like these employ the poet's tongue , I hear as mute as if a syren sung . Or tell me , if you can , what pow'r maintains 200 A Briton's scorn of arbitrary chains ? That were a theme might animate the dead , And move the lips of ...
... themes like these employ the poet's tongue , I hear as mute as if a syren sung . Or tell me , if you can , what pow'r maintains 200 A Briton's scorn of arbitrary chains ? That were a theme might animate the dead , And move the lips of ...
Page 18
... theme ; Genius is thine , and thou art Fancy's nurse ; Lost without thee th ' ennobling pow'rs of verse ; Heroick song from thy free touch acquires Its clearest tone , the rapture it inspires . 275 280 285 290 Place me where Winter ...
... theme ; Genius is thine , and thou art Fancy's nurse ; Lost without thee th ' ennobling pow'rs of verse ; Heroick song from thy free touch acquires Its clearest tone , the rapture it inspires . 275 280 285 290 Place me where Winter ...
Page 23
... fire The muse imparts , and can command the lyre , Acts with a force and kindles with a zeal , Whate'er the theme , that others never feel . 465 470 475 430 If human woes her soft attention claim , A tender TABLE TALK . 23.
... fire The muse imparts , and can command the lyre , Acts with a force and kindles with a zeal , Whate'er the theme , that others never feel . 465 470 475 430 If human woes her soft attention claim , A tender TABLE TALK . 23.
Page 25
... theme , 550 The fruit of all her labour is whipp'd cream , As if an eagle flew aloft , and then- Stoop'd from its highest pitch to pounce a wren . As if the poet , purposing to wed , Should carve himself a wife in gingerbread . 555 Ages ...
... theme , 550 The fruit of all her labour is whipp'd cream , As if an eagle flew aloft , and then- Stoop'd from its highest pitch to pounce a wren . As if the poet , purposing to wed , Should carve himself a wife in gingerbread . 555 Ages ...
Page 26
... theme ! That theme on Earth exhausted , though above ' Tis found as everlasting as his love , 595 Man lavish'd all his thoughts on human things- The feats of heroes , and tho wrath of kings , But still , while virtue kindled his delight ...
... theme ! That theme on Earth exhausted , though above ' Tis found as everlasting as his love , 595 Man lavish'd all his thoughts on human things- The feats of heroes , and tho wrath of kings , But still , while virtue kindled his delight ...
Other editions - View all
POEMS BY WILLIAM COWPER ESQ William 1731-1800 Cowper,John 1769-1833 Johnson No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
ALEXANDER SELKIRK beams beneath bids bless'd bliss boast breast call'd charms courser dark dear deeds deist delight design'd divine docet dream e'en earth Edmonton errour ev'ry eyes fair fancy fear feel fire flow'rs folly fools form'd frown Gilpin give glory GLOW-WORM God's grace hand happy hast hear heart Heav'n hope hour int'rest JOHN GILPIN joys land light lov'd lust lyre magick mankind mercy mind muse musick Nature never night nymph o'er once opticks pain pass'd peace pharisee pine-apples pity pleasure poet poet's poor pow'r praise pray'rs pride proud prove publick Rome sacred scene scorn scorn'd Scripture seem'd shine sight skies slave smile song soon sorrow soul sound Stamp'd stand stream sweet taste teach thee theme thine thou thought toil tongue trifler truth Twas VINCENT BOURNE VIRG virtue waste Whate'er wisdom wrath zeal
Popular passages
Page 179 - 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!
Page 237 - Until he came unto the Wash Of Edmonton so gay ; And there he threw the Wash about, On both sides of the way, Just like unto a trundling mop, Or a wild goose at play. At Edmonton his loving wife From the balcony spied Her tender husband, wondering much To see how he did ride. " Stop, stop, John Gilpin ! Here's the house!" They all at once did cry ; "The dinner waits and we are tired.
Page 240 - And galloped off with all his might, As he had done before. Away went Gilpin, and away Went Gilpin's hat and wig: He lost them sooner than at first, For why? — they were too big. Now...
Page 235 - For saddle-tree scarce reached had he, His journey to begin, When, turning round his head, he saw Three customers come in. So down he came ; for loss of time, Although it grieved him sore, Yet loss of pence, full well he knew, Would trouble him much more.
Page 234 - JOHN GILPIN was a citizen Of credit and renown, A train-band captain eke was he Of famous London town. John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, ' ' Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday have seen. " To-morrow is our wedding-day, And we will then repair Unto the Bell at Edmonton All in a chaise and pair. " My sister, and my sister's child, Myself and children three, Will fill the chaise ; so you must ride On horseback after we.
Page 57 - Toilsome and indigent) she renders much ; Just knows, and knows no more, her bible true, A truth the brilliant Frenchman never knew, And in that charter reads, with sparkling eyes, Her title to a treasure in the skies.
Page 235 - Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) Had two stone bottles found, To hold the liquor that she loved, And keep it safe and sound. Each bottle had a curling ear, Through which the belt he drew, And hung a bottle on each side, To make his balance true. Then over all, that he might be Equipped from top to toe, His long red cloak, well brushed and neat, He manfully did throw.
Page 234 - That's well said ; And for that wine is dear, We will be furnished with our own, Which is both bright and clear. John Gilpin kissed his loving wife ; O'erjoyed was he to find That though on pleasure she was bent, She had a frugal mind. The morning came, the chaise was brought, But yet was not allowed To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud.
Page 165 - Tis easy to resign a toilsome place, But not to manage leisure with a grace; Absence of occupation is not rest, A mind quite vacant, is a mind distress'd.
Page 178 - I AM monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute ; From the centre all round to the sea, I am lord of the fowl and the brute.