The Poetical Works of William Cowper ...Little, Brown, 1859 |
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Page 7
... Youth repairs His wasted spirits quickly , by long toil Incurring short fatigue ; and though our years , As life declines , speed rapidly away , And not a year but pilfers as he goes Some youthful grace , that age would gladly keep ; A ...
... Youth repairs His wasted spirits quickly , by long toil Incurring short fatigue ; and though our years , As life declines , speed rapidly away , And not a year but pilfers as he goes Some youthful grace , that age would gladly keep ; A ...
Page 54
... youth in occupations only fit For second childhood , and devote old age To sports which only childhood could excuse . There they are happiest who dissemble best Their weariness ; and they the most polite Who squander time and treasure ...
... youth in occupations only fit For second childhood , and devote old age To sports which only childhood could excuse . There they are happiest who dissemble best Their weariness ; and they the most polite Who squander time and treasure ...
Page 56
... , There dwelt a sage called Discipline . His head , Not yet by time completely silver'd o'er , Bespoke him past the bounds of freakish youth , But strong for service still , and unimpair'd . His 56 B. II . THE TASK .
... , There dwelt a sage called Discipline . His head , Not yet by time completely silver'd o'er , Bespoke him past the bounds of freakish youth , But strong for service still , and unimpair'd . His 56 B. II . THE TASK .
Page 57
... youth Close to his side that pleased him . Learning grew Beneath his care a thriving vigorous plant ; The mind was well inform'd , the passions held Subordinate , and diligence was choice . If e'er it chanced , as sometimes chance it ...
... youth Close to his side that pleased him . Learning grew Beneath his care a thriving vigorous plant ; The mind was well inform'd , the passions held Subordinate , and diligence was choice . If e'er it chanced , as sometimes chance it ...
Page 58
... youth were broken ; bars and bolts Grew rusty by disuse ; and massy gates Forgot their office , opening with a touch ; Till gowns at length are found mere masquerade , The tassel'd cap and the spruce band a jest , A mockery of the world ...
... youth were broken ; bars and bolts Grew rusty by disuse ; and massy gates Forgot their office , opening with a touch ; Till gowns at length are found mere masquerade , The tassel'd cap and the spruce band a jest , A mockery of the world ...
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Common terms and phrases
altera Aspasio beauty beneath bids boast breath call'd cause charms creatures death delight design'd distant divine dread dream e'en earth ease fair fame fancy fear feed feel flower folly form'd free as air fulta give glory grace grave groves hand happy hast heard heart Heaven honour hope human Jack hare labour less liberty life's live lost lyre Mighty winds mind muse nature Nature's Nebaioth never night nutat nymph o'er once pass'd peace perhaps PINEAPPLE pleasures plebeian praise prize proud prove scene seek seem'd serò shade shine sighs sight silent clock skies sleep sloth smile Sofa song soon soul sound spare Stamp'd succisas suspiria sweet task taste thee theme thine thou art thought toil truth Twas VINCENT BOURNE virtue voice walnut shade waste wind winter wisdom wonder worth youth
Popular passages
Page 97 - tis the twanging horn ! o'er yonder bridge, That with its wearisome but needful length Bestrides the wintry flood, in which the moon Sees her unwrinkled face reflected bright, He comes, the herald of a noisy world, With spatter'd boots, strapp'd waist, and frozen locks ; News from all nations lumbering at his back.
Page 34 - As human nature's broadest, foulest blot, Chains him, and tasks him, and exacts his sweat With stripes, that Mercy with a bleeding heart Weeps, when she sees inflicted on a beast : Then what is man ? And what man, seeing this, And having human feelings, does not "blush, And hang his head, to think himself a man...
Page 152 - There's not a chain That hellish foes, confederate for his harm, Can wind around him, but he casts it off With as much ease as Samson his green withes. He looks abroad into the varied field Of nature, and, though poor perhaps compared With those whose mansions glitter in his sight, Calls the delightful scenery all his own.
Page 38 - And manifold results, into the will And arbitration wise of the Supreme. Did not his eye rule all things, and intend The least of our concerns (since from the least The greatest oft originate); could chance Find place in his dominion, or dispose One lawless particle to thwart his plan ; Then God might be surprised, and unforeseen Contingence might alarm him, and disturb The smooth and equal course of his affairs.
Page 46 - Would I describe a preacher, such as Paul, Were he on Earth, would hear, approve, and own, Paul should himself direct me. I would trace His master-strokes, and draw from his design. I would express him simple, grave, sincere ; In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain, And plain in manner...
Page 189 - Kneels with the native of the farthest West, And ^Ethiopia spreads abroad the hand, And worships. Her report has travelled forth Into all lands.
Page 247 - Tis because resentment ties All the terrors of our tongues. Rome shall perish — write that word In the blood that she has spilt; Perish, hopeless and abhorr'd, Deep in ruin as in guilt.
Page 40 - Suspend th' effect, or heal it? Has not God Still wrought by means since first he made the world? And did he not of old employ his means To drown it? What is his creation less Than a capacious reservoir of means Form'd for his use, and ready at his will? Go, dress thine eyes with eyesalve; ask of him, Or ask of whomsoever he has taught, And learn, though late, the genuine cause of all.
Page 252 - 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 ! ' The meek intelligence of those dear eyes (Blest be the art that can immortalize, The art that baffles Time's tyrannic claim To quench it) here shines on me still the same.
Page 151 - 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...