The poems of William Cowper, with notes from his own correspondence1824 |
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Page 15
... beauty , strikes the heart , Quite unindebted to the tricks of art . When Labour and when Dulness , club in hand , Like the two figures at St. Dunstan's , stand , Beating alternately , in measur'd time , The clock - work tintinnabulum ...
... beauty , strikes the heart , Quite unindebted to the tricks of art . When Labour and when Dulness , club in hand , Like the two figures at St. Dunstan's , stand , Beating alternately , in measur'd time , The clock - work tintinnabulum ...
Page 16
... beauty shone A meteor , or a star ; in these , the sun . The nightingale may claim the topmost bough , While the poor grasshopper must chirp below . Like him unnotic'd , I , and such as I , Spread little wings , and rather skip than fly ...
... beauty shone A meteor , or a star ; in these , the sun . The nightingale may claim the topmost bough , While the poor grasshopper must chirp below . Like him unnotic'd , I , and such as I , Spread little wings , and rather skip than fly ...
Page 20
... beauty dress'd , Looks to the westward from the dappled east , And marks , whatever clouds may interpose , Ere yet his race begins , its glorious close ; An eye like his to catch the distant goal ; Or , ere the wheels of verse begin to ...
... beauty dress'd , Looks to the westward from the dappled east , And marks , whatever clouds may interpose , Ere yet his race begins , its glorious close ; An eye like his to catch the distant goal ; Or , ere the wheels of verse begin to ...
Page 23
... Beauty wooes him with expanded arms ; E'en Bacchanalian madness has its charms . Nor these alone , whose pleasures less refin'd Might well alarm the most unguarded mind , Seek to supplant his inexperienc'd youth , Or lead him devious ...
... Beauty wooes him with expanded arms ; E'en Bacchanalian madness has its charms . Nor these alone , whose pleasures less refin'd Might well alarm the most unguarded mind , Seek to supplant his inexperienc'd youth , Or lead him devious ...
Page 50
... beauty in his sight . See where he sits , contemplative and fix'd , Pleasure and wonder in his features mix'd , His passions tam'd and all at his control , How perfect the composure of his soul ! Complacency has breath'd a gentle gale O ...
... beauty in his sight . See where he sits , contemplative and fix'd , Pleasure and wonder in his features mix'd , His passions tam'd and all at his control , How perfect the composure of his soul ! Complacency has breath'd a gentle gale O ...
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The Poems of William Cowper, with Notes from His Own Correspondence William Cowper No preview available - 2016 |
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 give glory grace hand happy hast heart Heav'n heav'nly honour hope hour human int'rest John Gilpin land learn'd light lov'd lyre mankind mercy mind muse nature Nature's Nebaioth never NOSEGAY 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 sight skies slave smile song soon soul sound stamp'd stand stream sweet taste telescopic eye thee theme thine thou art thought toil tongue trembling trifler truth Twas virtue waste whate'er WILLIAM COWPER wind wisdom worth youth
Popular passages
Page 377 - 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!
Page 335 - But alas ! recollection at hand Soon hurries me back to despair. But the sea-fowl is gone to her nest, The beast is laid down in his lair, Even here is a season of rest, And I to my cabin repair. There's mercy in every place, And mercy, encouraging thought ! Gives even affliction a grace, And reconciles man to his lot.
Page 408 - Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace ; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
Page 398 - I heard the bell toll'd 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?
Page 334 - 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.
Page 398 - 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 340 - On the whole it appears, and my argument shows With a reasoning the court will never condemn, That the spectacles plainly were made for the Nose, And the Nose was as plainly intended for them. Then shifting his side, (as a lawyer knows how) He pleaded again in behalf of the Eyes ; But what were his arguments few people know, For the court did not think they were equally wise. So his lordship decreed, with a grave solemn tone, Decisive and clear, without one IF or BUT — That, whenever the Nose put...
Page 193 - Support and ornament of Virtue's cause. There stands the messenger of truth: there stands The legate of the skies! — His theme divine, His office sacred, his credentials clear. By him the violated law speaks out Its thunders ; and by him, in strains as sweet As angels use, the gospel whispers peace.
Page 400 - Shoots into port at some well-havened isle, Where spices breathe, and brighter seasons smile, There sits quiescent on the floods, that show Her beauteous form reflected clear below, "While airs impregnated with incense play Around her, fanning light her streamers gay ; So thou, with sails how swift ! hast reached the shore, " Where tempests never beat nor billows roar," And thy loved consort on the dangerous tide Of life long since has anchored by thy side.
Page 400 - Would'st softly speak, and stroke my head, and smile) — Could those few pleasant days again appear, Might one wish bring them, would I wish them here ? I would not trust my heart — the dear delight Seems so to be desir'd, perhaps I might.