The Poems of William Cowper: Volume II: 1782-1785This volume includes some of Cowper's finest works, among them such well-known short poems as `The Poplar-Field', `Epitaph on a Hare', `On the Loss of the Royal George' (here restored to the form in which Cowper wrote it, and accompanied by the music for which it was written), and `The Diverting History of John Gilpin' which, two years after its first anonymous publication in a newspaper, suddenly achieved huge popularity in a series of public readings. It also contains Cowper's masterpiece, The Task - one of the most approachable of the great English poems. Cowper's blank verse is a supple instrument, capable of every effect, from the parody-georgic on the growing of cucumbers to the visionary conclusion of Book VI. At the centre of the poem stands the poet himself, presented with wry humour and deep poignancy. The texts are based on manuscripts as well as early editions of the poetry, and are supplied with textual annotation and commentary. In the case of The Task, this is the first fully annotated edition for over a hundred years; its commentary relates the poem to the period in which it was written more fully than any previous edition. |
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Page xii
... later told Newton , to ward off ' such distress of mind as was hardly supportable ' . Even after she had passed out of his life , Lady Austen's confidence in his powers emboldened him to challenge Pope's supremacy as the ' English Homer ...
... later told Newton , to ward off ' such distress of mind as was hardly supportable ' . Even after she had passed out of his life , Lady Austen's confidence in his powers emboldened him to challenge Pope's supremacy as the ' English Homer ...
Page 318
... later , Lady Hesketh wrote to enquire whether the poem were his , for a lady in London had claimed to be the author . He replied that it was , and told the story of its irregular journey to Nichols , the editor . In the same letter ( 8 ...
... later , Lady Hesketh wrote to enquire whether the poem were his , for a lady in London had claimed to be the author . He replied that it was , and told the story of its irregular journey to Nichols , the editor . In the same letter ( 8 ...
Page 324
... later Archbishop of Cambrai , and influenced him strongly , both personally and through her letters , to the detriment of his later career . In 1693 , when Guyon had shown that warnings would not stop her from living in Paris and ...
... later Archbishop of Cambrai , and influenced him strongly , both personally and through her letters , to the detriment of his later career . In 1693 , when Guyon had shown that warnings would not stop her from living in Paris and ...
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Æneid appear beauty beneath Bull cause charms Clifton Reynes Collated copy COPY-TEXT Cowper Illustrated dear death delight divine earth edition ev'n ev'ry eyes fair fear feel flame flow'rs folly garden Gentleman's Magazine give glory grace Guyon Handel Commemoration happy hast Hayley heart heav'n human John Gilpin Johnson Joseph Hill King Lady Austen letter to Unwin lines live London Lord Love Madame Guyon mind Mme Guyon Morning Chronicle nature never night o'er Olney once pain Paradise Lost passage peace perhaps pleasure poem pow'r praise printing repose sacred scene schools seek seems sense shades skies sleep smile song soon sorrow soul stanzas sweet Task taste thee thine thou art thought Tirocinium Title translation truth verse virtue VOLUME 2 CANTIQUE Westminster Westminster School William Bull William Cowper William Unwin winter wish woes ΙΟ