The Task, and Other Poems |
From inside the book
Page 8
On such a stool immortal Alfred sat , And sway ' d the sceptre of his infant realms :
And such in ancient halls and mansions drear May still be seen ; but perforated
sore , 25 And drill ' d in holes , the solid oak is found , By worms voracious ...
On such a stool immortal Alfred sat , And sway ' d the sceptre of his infant realms :
And such in ancient halls and mansions drear May still be seen ; but perforated
sore , 25 And drill ' d in holes , the solid oak is found , By worms voracious ...
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 25
Ev ' ry speck Seen in the dim horizon turns thee pale With conflict of contending
hopes and fears . But comes at last the dull and dusky eve , And sends thee to thy
cabin , well prepar ' d To dream all night of what the day denied . Alas ! expect it ...
Ev ' ry speck Seen in the dim horizon turns thee pale With conflict of contending
hopes and fears . But comes at last the dull and dusky eve , And sends thee to thy
cabin , well prepar ' d To dream all night of what the day denied . Alas ! expect it ...
Page 83
266 Just when our drawing - rooms begin to blaze With lights , by clear reflection
multiplied From many a mirror , in which he of Gath , Goliath , might have seen
his giant bulk 270 Whole without stooping , tow ' ring crest and all , My pleasures
...
266 Just when our drawing - rooms begin to blaze With lights , by clear reflection
multiplied From many a mirror , in which he of Gath , Goliath , might have seen
his giant bulk 270 Whole without stooping , tow ' ring crest and all , My pleasures
...
Page 177
... turn infidels themselves ; See womanhood despis ' d , and manbood sham ' d
With infamy too nauseous to be nam ' d ; Fops at all corners , lady - like in pien ,
Civited fellows , smelt ere they are seen , 830 Else coarse and rude in manners ...
... turn infidels themselves ; See womanhood despis ' d , and manbood sham ' d
With infamy too nauseous to be nam ' d ; Fops at all corners , lady - like in pien ,
Civited fellows , smelt ere they are seen , 830 Else coarse and rude in manners ...
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Common terms and phrases
beauty beneath BOOK bound breath cause charge charms clear close course death deep delights distant divine dream earth ease effect ev'ry fair fall fancy fear feed feel field flow'r 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 pow'r praise proud prove rest rise scene schools seek seems seen shine side sight sleep smile soon soul sound stands sweet task taste thee theme thine things thou thought true truth turn virtue voice waste 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 |