The Poems of William Cowper |
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Page 17
That theme on earth exhausted , though above ' Tis found as everlasting as his
love , Man lavish'd all his thoughts on human things --- The feats of heroes , and
the wrath of kings ; But still , while Virtue kindled his delight , The song was moral
...
That theme on earth exhausted , though above ' Tis found as everlasting as his
love , Man lavish'd all his thoughts on human things --- The feats of heroes , and
the wrath of kings ; But still , while Virtue kindled his delight , The song was moral
...
Page 95
These are thy glorious works , eternal Truth , The scoff of wither'd age , and
beardless youth ; These move the censure and illib'ral grin Of fools , that hate
thee and delight in sin : But these shall last when night has quench'd the pole ,
And ...
These are thy glorious works , eternal Truth , The scoff of wither'd age , and
beardless youth ; These move the censure and illib'ral grin Of fools , that hate
thee and delight in sin : But these shall last when night has quench'd the pole ,
And ...
Page 144
With eager step, and carelessly array'd, For such a cause the poet seeks the
shade, From all he sees he catches new delight, Pleas'd Fancy claps her pinions
at the sight, The rising or the setting orb of day, The clouds that flit, or slowly float
...
With eager step, and carelessly array'd, For such a cause the poet seeks the
shade, From all he sees he catches new delight, Pleas'd Fancy claps her pinions
at the sight, The rising or the setting orb of day, The clouds that flit, or slowly float
...
Page 176
... may be seen Till half their beauties fade; the weary sight, Too well acquainted
with their smiles, slides off Fastidious, seeking less familiar scenes. Then snug
enclosures in the shelter'd vale, Where frequent hedges intercept the eye, Delight
...
... may be seen Till half their beauties fade; the weary sight, Too well acquainted
with their smiles, slides off Fastidious, seeking less familiar scenes. Then snug
enclosures in the shelter'd vale, Where frequent hedges intercept the eye, Delight
...
Page 273
... takes unconscious of a chain ; And that to bind him is a vain attempt , Whom
God delights in , and in whom he dwells . ... shall be instructed ; and thine heart
Made pure shall relish , with divine delight Till then unfelt , what hands divine
have ...
... takes unconscious of a chain ; And that to bind him is a vain attempt , Whom
God delights in , and in whom he dwells . ... shall be instructed ; and thine heart
Made pure shall relish , with divine delight Till then unfelt , what hands divine
have ...
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Common terms and phrases
appears beauty beneath cause charms close course death deep delight divine dream earth ease ev'ry eyes face fair fall fancy fear feel field fire flow'r folly force fruit give glory grace half hand happy hast head hear heard heart Heav'n hope hour human kind land least leaves less light live lost means mind nature never night once peace perhaps play pleasure poor pow'r praise pride prove rest round scene seek seems seen sense shine side sight skies smile song soon soul sound speak stand stream sweet task taste teach thee theme thine things thou thought thousand true truth turn virtue voice waste wind wisdom worth youth
Popular passages
Page 183 - 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 408 - GOD moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform ; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs, And works his sovereign will. 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 377 - Were shatter'd at a blow. Down ran the wine into the road, Most piteous to be seen, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had basted been. But still he...
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 376 - His horse, who never in that sort Had handled been before, What thing upon his back had got Did wonder more and more. Away went Gilpin, neck or nought, Away went hat and wig; He little dreamt, when he set out, Of running such a rig.
Page 395 - Then the progeny that springs From the forests of our land, Arm'd with thunder, clad with wings, Shall a wider world command. Regions Caesar never knew Thy posterity shall sway ; Where his eagles never flew, None invincible as they.
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.
Page 277 - No noise is here, or none that hinders thought. The redbreast warbles still, but is content With slender notes, and more than half suppress'd : Pleased with his solitude, and flitting light From spray to spray, where'er he rests he shakes From many a twig the pendent drops of ice, That tinkle in the wither'd leaves below.
Page 231 - Tis pleasant, through the loopholes of retreat. To peep at such a world ; to see the stir Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd ; To hear the roar she sends through all her gates At a safe distance, where the dying sound Falls a soft murmur on the uninjured ear.
Page 277 - Upon the southern side of the slant hills, And where the woods fence off the northern blast, 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. Again the harmony comes o'er the vale ; And through the trees I view th' embattled tow'r, Whence all the music.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Poems of William Cowper |
| Author | William Cowper |
| Publisher | Ernest Fleischer, 1828 |
| Original from | the New York Public Library |
| Digitized | 28 Nov 2006 |
| Length | 427 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |