The Task, and Other Poems |
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Page 33
Who , then , that has thee , would not hold thee fast , Freedom ! whom they that
lose thee so regret ; 130 That e ' en a judgment , making way for thee , Seems in
their eyes a mercy for thy sake ? Such evil Sin hath wrought ; and such a flame ...
Who , then , that has thee , would not hold thee fast , Freedom ! whom they that
lose thee so regret ; 130 That e ' en a judgment , making way for thee , Seems in
their eyes a mercy for thy sake ? Such evil Sin hath wrought ; and such a flame ...
Page 44
A relaxation of religion ' s hold Upon the roving and untutor ' d heart Sogn follows
, and , the curb of conscience snapp ' d The laity run wild . But do they now ? Note
their extravagance , and be convinc ' d . , As nations , ignorant of God ...
A relaxation of religion ' s hold Upon the roving and untutor ' d heart Sogn follows
, and , the curb of conscience snapp ' d The laity run wild . But do they now ? Note
their extravagance , and be convinc ' d . , As nations , ignorant of God ...
Page 47
They gaze upon the links , that hold them fast , With eyes of anguish , execrate
their lot , Then shake them in despair , and dance again ! Now basket up the
family of plagues , That waste our vitals ; peculation , sale Of honour , perjury ...
They gaze upon the links , that hold them fast , With eyes of anguish , execrate
their lot , Then shake them in despair , and dance again ! Now basket up the
family of plagues , That waste our vitals ; peculation , sale Of honour , perjury ...
Page 80
Thou hold ' st the sun A pris ' ner in the yet undawning east , Short ' ning his
journey between morn and noon , And hurrying him , impatient of his stay , Down
to the rosy west : but kindly still Compensating his loss with added hours Of social
...
Thou hold ' st the sun A pris ' ner in the yet undawning east , Short ' ning his
journey between morn and noon , And hurrying him , impatient of his stay , Down
to the rosy west : but kindly still Compensating his loss with added hours Of social
...
Page 125
The few that pray at all , pray oft amiss , And , seeking grace t improve the prize
they hold , 55 Would urge a wiser suit than asking more . The night was winter in
its roughest mood ; The morning sharp and clear . But now at noonUpon the ...
The few that pray at all , pray oft amiss , And , seeking grace t improve the prize
they hold , 55 Would urge a wiser suit than asking more . The night was winter in
its roughest mood ; The morning sharp and clear . But now at noonUpon the ...
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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 |