The Task, and Other PoemsGeorge M'Dowell and Son, 1831 - 179 pages |
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Page 14
... waste without a tree . Thanks to Benevolus * -he spares me yet These chestnuts rang'd in corresponding lines ; And , though himself so polish'd , still reprieves The obsolete prolixity of shade . Descending now ( but cautious , lest too ...
... waste without a tree . Thanks to Benevolus * -he spares me yet These chestnuts rang'd in corresponding lines ; And , though himself so polish'd , still reprieves The obsolete prolixity of shade . Descending now ( but cautious , lest too ...
Page 16
... wastes what it enjoys . Refreshing change ! where now the blazing sun ? 335 By short transition we have lost his glare , And stepp'd at once into a cooler clime . Ye fallen avenues ! once more I mourn Your fate unmerited , once more ...
... wastes what it enjoys . Refreshing change ! where now the blazing sun ? 335 By short transition we have lost his glare , And stepp'd at once into a cooler clime . Ye fallen avenues ! once more I mourn Your fate unmerited , once more ...
Page 22
... waste ; there spends the livelong day , And there , unless when charity forbids , The livelong night . A tatter'd apron hides , Worn as a cloak , and hardly hides , a gown More tatter'd still ; and both but ill conceal A bosom heav'd ...
... waste ; there spends the livelong day , And there , unless when charity forbids , The livelong night . A tatter'd apron hides , Worn as a cloak , and hardly hides , a gown More tatter'd still ; and both but ill conceal A bosom heav'd ...
Page 25
... waste For sight of ship from England . 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 ...
... waste For sight of ship from England . 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 ...
Page 33
... waste his fairest works . The very elements , though each he meant The minister of man , to serve his wants , Conspire against him . With his breath he draws A plague into his blood ; and cannot use 140 Life's necessary means , but he ...
... waste his fairest works . The very elements , though each he meant The minister of man , to serve his wants , Conspire against him . With his breath he draws A plague into his blood ; and cannot use 140 Life's necessary means , but he ...
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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.