The Works of William Cowper, Esq: Comprising His Poems, Corrsepondence, and Translations with a Life of the Author, by the Editor, Robert Southey, Volume 5

Front Cover
Baldwin and Cradock, 1836

From inside the book

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 304 - Hope deferred maketh the heart sick : but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Page 16 - Candidates are creatures not very susceptible of affronts, and 'would rather, I suppose, climb in at a window, than be absolutely excluded. In a minute, the yard, the kitchen, and the parlour, 'were filled. Mr. Grenville advancing toward me shook me by the hand with a degree of cordiality that was extremely seducing. As soon as he and as many more as could find chairs were seated, he began to open the intent of his visit. I told him I had no vote, for which he readily gave me credit. I assured him...
Page 247 - The Lord can clear the darkest skies, Can give us day for night; Make drops of sacred sorrow rise To rivers of delight.
Page 308 - When I read your letters I hear you talk, and I love talking letters dearly, especially from you. Well ! the middle of June will not be always a thousand years off, and when it comes I shall hear...
Page 356 - Unwin not less than me. By her help we get change of air and of scene, though still resident at Olney ; and by her means, have intercourse with some families in this country, with whom, but for her, we could never have been acquainted. Her presence here would, at any time, even in my happiest days, have been a comfort to me ; but, in the present day, I am doubly sensible of its value. She leaves nothing unsaid, nothing undone, that she thinks will be conducive to our well-being ; and, so far as she...
Page 13 - Pie has a penetrating insight into character, and a happy talent of correcting the popular opinion, upon all occasions where it is erroneous ; and this he does with the boldness of a man who will think for himself, but, at the same time, with a justness of sentiment that convinces us he does not differ from others through affectation, but because he has a sounder judgement. This remark, however, has his narrative for its object, rather than his critical performance.
Page 352 - It was an observation of a sensible man, whom I knew well in ancient days, (I mean when I was very young,) that people are never in reality happy when they boast much of being so. I feel myself accordingly well content to say, without any enlargement on the subject, that an...
Page 332 - ... and honey-suckle, and shady walks, and cool alcoves, and you will partake them with us. But I want you to have a share of every thing that is delightful here, and cannot bear that the advance of the season should steal away a single pleasure before you can come to enjoy it. Every day I think of you, and almost all the day long ; I will venture to say, that even you were never so expected in your life.
Page 257 - I will conduct you, and where I will introduce you to Mrs. Unwin, unless we should meet her before, and where we will be as happy as the day is long. Order yourself, my cousin, to the Swan at Newport, and there you shall find me ready to conduct you to Olney. My dear, I have told Homer what you say about casks and urns, and have asked him, whether he is sure that it is a cask in which Jupiter keeps his wine. He swears that it is a cask, and that it will never be any thing better than a cask to eternity....
Page 333 - ... about my fits of dejection. Something has happened that has led .me to the subject, or I would have mentioned them more sparingly. Do not suppose, or suspect that I treat you with reserve; there is nothing in which I am concerned that you shall not be made acquainted with. But the tale is too long for a letter. I will only .add for your present satisfaction, that the cause is not exterior, that it is not within the reach of human aid, and that yet I have a hope myself, and Mrs. Unwin a strong...

Bibliographic information