The Task, and Other PoemsGeorge M'Dowell and Son, 1831 - 179 pages |
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Page 13
... fields , and female feet , 215 Too weak to struggle with tenacious clay , Or ford the rivulets , are best at home , The task of new discov'ries falls on me . At such a season , and with such a charge , Once went I forth ; and found ...
... fields , and female feet , 215 Too weak to struggle with tenacious clay , Or ford the rivulets , are best at home , The task of new discov'ries falls on me . At such a season , and with such a charge , Once went I forth ; and found ...
Page 15
... field ; but , scatter'd by degrees , Each to his choice , soon whiten all the land . There from the sunburnt hayfield homeward creeps 290 The loaded wain ; while , lighten'd of its charge , The wain that meets it passes swiftly by ; 296 ...
... field ; but , scatter'd by degrees , Each to his choice , soon whiten all the land . There from the sunburnt hayfield homeward creeps 290 The loaded wain ; while , lighten'd of its charge , The wain that meets it passes swiftly by ; 296 ...
Page 18
... field 415 For the unscented fictions of the loom ; Who , satisfied with only pencill'd scenes , Prefer to the performance of a God Th ' inferiour wonders of artist's hand ! Lovely indeed the mimick works of Art ; But Nature's works far ...
... field 415 For the unscented fictions of the loom ; Who , satisfied with only pencill'd scenes , Prefer to the performance of a God Th ' inferiour wonders of artist's hand ! Lovely indeed the mimick works of Art ; But Nature's works far ...
Page 19
... 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 ; The low'ring eye , the petulance , the frown , And sullen ...
... 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 ; The low'ring eye , the petulance , the frown , And sullen ...
Page 26
... field , and clothes a soil So sterile with what charms soe'er she will , The richest scenery and the loveliest forms . Where finds Philosophy her , eagle eye , With which she gazes at yon burning disk Undazzled , and detects and counts ...
... field , and clothes a soil So sterile with what charms soe'er she will , The richest scenery and the loveliest forms . Where finds Philosophy her , eagle eye , With which she gazes at yon burning disk Undazzled , and detects and counts ...
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Common terms and phrases
beauty beneath betimes boast breath call'd cause charms clime delights design'd distant divine domestick dread dream e'en earth ease ev'ry fair fame fancy fear feed feel field of glory flow'r folly form'd fountain of eternal frown fruits give glory Gothick grace grave groves hand happy heart Heav'n honour human JOSEPH HILL king labour lanquid learn'd less lost lyre magick mercy Mighty winds mind mischief musick nature Nature's Nebaioth never nymphs o'er once peace perhaps plac'd pleas'd pleasures polish'd pow'r praise proud publick rapture riddance rude rural sacred scene schools scorn seek seem'd shade shine sight slaves sleep sloth smile Sofa song soon soul sound sweet task taste thee theme thine thou art thou hast toil touch'd trembling truth Twas virtue wand'ring WILLIAM COWPER wind winter wisdom wise worth youth
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.