The Task: And Other PoemsCarey and Hart, 1845 - 324 pages |
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Page 12
... ease ; The slippery seat betray'd 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 placed In modest mediocrity , content With ...
... ease ; The slippery seat betray'd 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 placed In modest mediocrity , content With ...
Page 13
... ease . But , rude at first , and not with easy slope Receding wide , they press'd against the ribs , And bruised the side ; and , elevated high , Taught the raised shoulders to invade the ears . Long time elapsed or e'er our rugged ...
... ease . But , rude at first , and not with easy slope Receding wide , they press'd against the ribs , And bruised the side ; and , elevated high , Taught the raised shoulders to invade the ears . Long time elapsed or e'er our rugged ...
Page 15
... ease , or leaps the fence ; That play of lungs , inhaling and again Respiring freely the fresh air , that makes Swift pace or steep ascent no toil to me , Mine have not pilfer'd yet ; nor yet impair'd My relish of fair prospect : scenes ...
... ease , or leaps the fence ; That play of lungs , inhaling and again Respiring freely the fresh air , that makes Swift pace or steep ascent no toil to me , Mine have not pilfer'd yet ; nor yet impair'd My relish of fair prospect : scenes ...
Page 22
... ease . The sedentary stretch their lazy length When Custom bids , but no refreshment find , For none they need ; the languid eye , the cheek Deserted of its bloom , the flaccid , shrunk , And wither'd muscle , and the vapid soul ...
... ease . The sedentary stretch their lazy length When Custom bids , but no refreshment find , For none they need ; the languid eye , the cheek Deserted of its bloom , the flaccid , shrunk , And wither'd muscle , and the vapid soul ...
Page 23
... Ease , when courted most , Farthest retires - an idol , at whose shrine Who oftenest sacrifice are favour'd least . The love of Nature , and the scenes she draws , Is Nature's dictate . Strange ! there should be found , Who , self ...
... Ease , when courted most , Farthest retires - an idol , at whose shrine Who oftenest sacrifice are favour'd least . The love of Nature , and the scenes she draws , Is Nature's dictate . Strange ! there should be found , Who , self ...
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Common terms and phrases
Æsop Aristaus beauty beneath betimes boast breath call'd cause charms Cyrene death Deist delight deluge design'd distant divine dream e'en earth ease fair fame fancy fear feed feel flowers folly form'd fruit give glory grace hand happy heart Heaven honest pleasures honour human John Gilpin King labour less liberty live lost lurcher lyre mind mounted best Nature Nature's Nebaioth never nymphs o'er once peace perhaps pleasure praise prize proud prove rest riddance rural scene scorn seek seem'd sensual world shade shine sight skies sleep sloth smile song soon soul sound spare stamp'd stream sweet sweet oblivion task taste thee theme thine thou art thou hast thought toil trembling truth Twas vale vex'd virtue walk waste WILLIAM COWPER wind winter wisdom wisely store wonder worth youth
Popular passages
Page 247 - Toll for the brave ! Brave Kempenfelt is gone ; His last sea-fight is fought; His work of glory done. It was not in the battle ; No tempest gave the shock; She sprang no fatal leak ; She ran upon no rock.
Page 221 - Then the progeny that springs From the forests of our land, Armed with thunder, clad with wings, Shall a wider world command. 'Regions Caesar never knew Thy posterity shall sway, Where his eagles never flew, None invincible as they.
Page 34 - 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 46 - What ! will a man play tricks, will he indulge A silly fond conceit of his fair form And just proportion, fashionable mien And pretty face, in presence of his God ? Or will he seek to dazzle me with tropes, As with the diamond on his lily hand, And play his brilliant parts before my eyes, When I am hungry for the bread of life ? He mocks his Maker, prostitutes and shames His noble office, and, instead of truth, Displaying his own beauty, starves his flock. Therefore avaunt all attitude, and stare,...
Page 220 - Sage beneath the spreading oak Sat the Druid, hoary chief: Every burning word he spoke Full of rage, and full of grief. ' Princess ! if our aged eyes Weep upon thy matchless wrongs, 'Tis because resentment ties All the terrors of our tongues. ' Rome shall perish ! — write that word In the blood that she has spilt: Perish, hopeless and abhorr'd, Deep in ruin as in guilt.
Page 94 - Made vocal for the amusement of the rest ; The sprightly lyre, whose treasure of sweet sounds The touch from many a trembling chord shakes out ; And the clear voice symphonious, yet distinct, And in the charming strife triumphant still, Beguile the night, and set a keener edge On female industry ; the threaded steel Flies swiftly, and unfelt the task proceeds.
Page 20 - Within the twilight of their distant shades ; There, lost behind a rising ground, the wood Seems sunk, and shorten'd to its topmost boughs. No tree in all the grove but has its charms, Though each its hue peculiar...
Page 64 - 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 34 - 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 126 - Thou art the source and centre of all minds, Their only point of rest, eternal Word ! From thee departing they are lost, and rove At random without honour, hope, or peace. From thee is all that soothes the life of man, His high endeavour, and his glad success, His strength to suffer, and his will to serve.