The Task, and Other Poems |
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Page 8
45 The slipp ' ry seat betrayed the sliding part That press ' d it , and the feet hung
dangling down , Anxious in vain to find the distant floor . These for the rich ; the
rest , whom Fate had plac ' d In modest mediocrity , content With base materials ...
45 The slipp ' ry seat betrayed the sliding part That press ' d it , and the feet hung
dangling down , Anxious in vain to find the distant floor . These for the rich ; the
rest , whom Fate had plac ' d In modest mediocrity , content With base materials ...
Page 11
Thence , with what pleasure have we just discern ' d The distant plough slow
moving , and beside 160 His lab ' ring team , that swerv ' d not from the track , The
sturdy swain diminish ' d to a boy ! Here Ouse , slow winding through a level plain
...
Thence , with what pleasure have we just discern ' d The distant plough slow
moving , and beside 160 His lab ' ring team , that swerv ' d not from the track , The
sturdy swain diminish ' d to a boy ! Here Ouse , slow winding through a level plain
...
Page 19
Fair fields appear below , such as he left Far distant , such as he would die to find
He seeks them headlong , and is seen no more . The spleen is seldom felt where
Flora reigns ; 455 The low ' ring eye , the petulance , the frown , And sullen ...
Fair fields appear below , such as he left Far distant , such as he would die to find
He seeks them headlong , and is seen no more . The spleen is seldom felt where
Flora reigns ; 455 The low ' ring eye , the petulance , the frown , And sullen ...
Page 31
But grant her end 65 More distant , and that prophecy demands . A longer respite
, unaccomplish ' d yet ; Still they are frowning signals , and bespeak Displeasure
in his breast who smites the Earth Or heals it , makes it languish or rejoice .
But grant her end 65 More distant , and that prophecy demands . A longer respite
, unaccomplish ' d yet ; Still they are frowning signals , and bespeak Displeasure
in his breast who smites the Earth Or heals it , makes it languish or rejoice .
Page 73
Springs a palace in its stead , But in a distant spot ; where more expos ' d 770 It
may enjoy the advantage of the north , And aguish east , till time shall have
transform ' d Those naked acres to a shelt ' ring grove . . . He speaks . ' The lake
in front ...
Springs a palace in its stead , But in a distant spot ; where more expos ' d 770 It
may enjoy the advantage of the north , And aguish east , till time shall have
transform ' d Those naked acres to a shelt ' ring grove . . . He speaks . ' The lake
in front ...
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Common terms and phrases
beauty beneath BOOK bound breath cause charge charms close course death deep delights distant dream earth ease ev'ry fair fall fancy fear feed feel field folly force fruits give glory grace half hand happy head heart Heav'n hold honour hope hour human kind king land least leaves length less light live lost manners means mind nature never once peace perhaps play pleasures poor pow'r praise proud prove rest rise scene schools seek seems seen shine side sight skill sleep smile soon soul sound stands sweet task taste thee theme thine things thou thought true truth turn virtue voice wind winter wisdom wise wish wonder worth
Popular passages
Page 30 - 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 30 - As human nature's broadest, foulest blot, Chains him, and tasks him, and exacts his sweat With stripes, that Mercy with a bleeding heart Weeps, when she sees inflicted on a beast...
Page 77 - Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And while the bubbling and loud-hissing urn Throws up a steamy column, and the cups, That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, So let us welcome peaceful evening in.
Page 55 - My panting side was charged, when I withdrew To seek a tranquil death in distant shades. There was I found by one who had Himself Been hurt by th
Page 139 - The sum is this. If man's convenience, health, Or safety interfere, his rights and claims Are paramount, and must extinguish theirs. Else they are all — the meanest things that are As free to live, and to enjoy that life, As God was free to form them at the first, Who in his sovereign wisdom made them all.
Page 38 - 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 126 - Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men ; Wisdom in minds attentive to their own. Knowledge a rude unprofitable mass, The mere materials with which wisdom builds, Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place, Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich. Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much ; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
Page 40 - 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 30 - 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 163 - That, viewing it, we seem almost t' obtain Our innocent sweet simple years again. This fond attachment to the well-known place, Whence first we started into life's long race, Maintains its hold with such unfailing sway, We feel it e'en in age, and at our latest day.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Task, and Other Poems |
| Author | William Cowper |
| Publisher | George M'Dowell and Son, 1831 |
| Original from | Harvard University |
| Digitized | 1 Mar 2008 |
| Length | 179 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |