The Task: In Six Books |
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Page 16
Here I have said , at least I should possess The poet's treasure , Silence , and
indulge The dreams of fancy , tranquil and secure . Vain thought ! the dweller in
that still retreat Dearly obtains the refuge it affords . Its elevated site forbids the ...
Here I have said , at least I should possess The poet's treasure , Silence , and
indulge The dreams of fancy , tranquil and secure . Vain thought ! the dweller in
that still retreat Dearly obtains the refuge it affords . Its elevated site forbids the ...
Page 21
Like a coy maiden , Ease , when courted most , Purthest retires - an idol , at
whose shrine Who oft'nest sacrifice are favour'd least . The love of Nature , and
the scenes she draws , ' s nature's dictate . Strange ! there should be found , Who
, self ...
Like a coy maiden , Ease , when courted most , Purthest retires - an idol , at
whose shrine Who oft'nest sacrifice are favour'd least . The love of Nature , and
the scenes she draws , ' s nature's dictate . Strange ! there should be found , Who
, self ...
Page 28
Rank abundance breeds , in gross and pamper'd cities , sloth , and lust , And
wantonness , and gluttonous excess . In cities , vice is hidden with most ease , Or
seen ' with least reproach ; and virtue , taught THE SOFA . By frequent lapse , can
...
Rank abundance breeds , in gross and pamper'd cities , sloth , and lust , And
wantonness , and gluttonous excess . In cities , vice is hidden with most ease , Or
seen ' with least reproach ; and virtue , taught THE SOFA . By frequent lapse , can
...
Page 30
... and hassocks are well - nigh divorc'd . God made the country , and man made
the town . What wonder then that health and virtue , gifts That can alone make
sweet the bitter draught That life holds out to all , should most abound And least ...
... and hassocks are well - nigh divorc'd . God made the country , and man made
the town . What wonder then that health and virtue , gifts That can alone make
sweet the bitter draught That life holds out to all , should most abound And least ...
Page 40
Did not his eye rule all things , and intend The least of our concerns ; ( since from
the least The greatest oft originale :) could chance Find place in his dominion , or
dispose One lawless particle to thwart his plan ; Then God might be surpris'd ...
Did not his eye rule all things , and intend The least of our concerns ; ( since from
the least The greatest oft originale :) could chance Find place in his dominion , or
dispose One lawless particle to thwart his plan ; Then God might be surpris'd ...
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Common terms and phrases
beauty beneath BOOK bounds breath cause charms cities clear close course death deep delight distant divine dream e'en earth ease effect ev'ry fair fall fancy fear feeds feel field flow'r force fruit gives glory grace green half hand happy head heart Heav'n holds hope hour human king land least leaves length less light live lost manners means mind nature never o'er once peace perhaps pleasures pow'r praise proud publick rest rise rural sake scene seek seems seen shine side sleep slow smiles song soon soul sound stands stream sweet task taste thee theme thine things thou thought thousand true truth turn vain virtue walk wind winter wisdom worth worthy
Popular passages
Page 161 - One song employs all nations ; and all cry, " Worthy the Lamb, for he was slain for us ! " The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks Shout to each other, and the mountain tops From distant mountains catch the flying joy ; Till, nation after nation taught the strain, Earth rolls the rapturous Hosanna round.
Page 41 - 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 155 - I would not enter on my list of friends (Though graced with polished manners and fine sense, Yet wanting sensibility) the man Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm.
Page 43 - A messenger of grace to guilty men. Behold the picture ! — Is it like ? — Like whom ? The things that mount the rostrum with a skip, And then skip down again ; pronounce a text ; Cry — hem ! and reading what they never wrote, Just fifteen minutes, huddle up their work, And with a well-bred whisper close the scene...
Page 32 - I would not have a slave to till my ground, To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd.
Page 42 - Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too ; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of grace to guilty men.
Page 161 - The garden fears no blight, and needs no fence, For there is none to covet; all are full. The lion, and the libbard, and the bear, Graze with the fearless flocks; all bask at noon Together, or all gambol in the shade Of the same grove, and drink one common stream ; Antipathies are none.
Page 32 - Slaves cannot breathe in England ; if their lungs Receive our air, that moment they are free ; They touch our country, and their shackles fall. That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud And jealous of the blessing. Spread it then, And let it circulate through every vein Of all your empire ; that, where Britain's power Is felt, mankind may feel her mercy too.
Page 32 - We have no slaves at home — then why abroad ? And they themselves once ferried o'er the wave That parts us, are emancipate and loosed. 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 31 - There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart, It does not feel for man ; the natural bond Of brotherhood is sever'd as the flax That falls asunder at the touch of fire.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Task: In Six Books |
| Author | William Cowper |
| Publisher | J. & B. Williams, 1836 |
| Original from | the New York Public Library |
| Digitized | 28 Nov 2006 |
| Length | 172 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |