The Task, and Other PoemsGeorge M'Dowell and Son, 1831 - 179 pages |
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Page 34
... things , and intend The least of our concerns ; ( since from the least The greatest oft originate ; ) could chance Find place in his dominion , or dispose One lawless particle to thwart his plan ; Then God might be surpris'd , and ...
... things , and intend The least of our concerns ; ( since from the least The greatest oft originate ; ) could chance Find place in his dominion , or dispose One lawless particle to thwart his plan ; Then God might be surpris'd , and ...
Page 35
... things , as smooth And tender as a girl , all essenc'd o'er With odours , and as profligate as sweet ; Who sell their laurel for a mirtle wreath , And love when they should fight : when such as these Presume to lay their hand upon the ...
... things , as smooth And tender as a girl , all essenc'd o'er With odours , and as profligate as sweet ; Who sell their laurel for a mirtle wreath , And love when they should fight : when such as these Presume to lay their hand upon the ...
Page 38
... thing ) — The pulpit ( when the sat❜rist has at last , Strutting and vap'ring in an empty school , 325 330 Spent all his force , and made no proselyte ) — I say the pulpit ( in the sober use Of its legitimate peculiar pow'rs ) Must ...
... thing ) — The pulpit ( when the sat❜rist has at last , Strutting and vap'ring in an empty school , 325 330 Spent all his force , and made no proselyte ) — I say the pulpit ( in the sober use Of its legitimate peculiar pow'rs ) Must ...
Page 40
... 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 ! In ...
... 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 ! In ...
Page 41
... things divine ; and all besides , 425 430 Though learn'd with labour , and though much admir'd By curious eyes and judgment ill - form'd , To me is odious as the nasal twang 435 Heard at the conventicle where worthy men , Misled by ...
... things divine ; and all besides , 425 430 Though learn'd with labour , and though much admir'd By curious eyes and judgment ill - form'd , To me is odious as the nasal twang 435 Heard at the conventicle where worthy men , Misled by ...
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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.