Poems of William Cowper, Esq |
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Page 4
... o'er life's narrow stage ; Then leave their crimes for history to scan , And ask , with busy scorn , Was this the man ? I pity kings , whom Worship waits upon Obsequious from the cradle to the throne ; Before whose infant eyes the flatt ...
... o'er life's narrow stage ; Then leave their crimes for history to scan , And ask , with busy scorn , Was this the man ? I pity kings , whom Worship waits upon Obsequious from the cradle to the throne ; Before whose infant eyes the flatt ...
Page 13
... o'er the scene . All are his instruments ; each form of war , What burns at home , or threatens from afar , Nature in arms , her elements at strife , The storms that overset the joys of life , Are but his rods to scourge a guilty land ...
... o'er the scene . All are his instruments ; each form of war , What burns at home , or threatens from afar , Nature in arms , her elements at strife , The storms that overset the joys of life , Are but his rods to scourge a guilty land ...
Page 50
... O'er all his thoughts , and swell'd his easy sail : His books well trimm'd and in the gayest style , Like regimental coxcombs , rank and file , Adorn his intellects as well as shelves , And teach him notions splendid as themselves : The ...
... O'er all his thoughts , and swell'd his easy sail : His books well trimm'd and in the gayest style , Like regimental coxcombs , rank and file , Adorn his intellects as well as shelves , And teach him notions splendid as themselves : The ...
Page 51
... o'er the Christian's thorny road ! The soul , reposing on assur'd relief , Feels herself happy amidst all her grief , Forgets her labour as she toils along , Weeps tears of joy , and bursts into a song . But the same word , that like ...
... o'er the Christian's thorny road ! The soul , reposing on assur'd relief , Feels herself happy amidst all her grief , Forgets her labour as she toils along , Weeps tears of joy , and bursts into a song . But the same word , that like ...
Page 62
... o'er ev'ry country sown , With none on Earth that thou canst call thine own ; Cry aloud , thou that sittest in the dust , Cry to the proud , the cruel , and unjust ; Knock at the gates of nations , rouse their fears ; Say wrath is ...
... o'er ev'ry country sown , With none on Earth that thou canst call thine own ; Cry aloud , thou that sittest in the dust , Cry to the proud , the cruel , and unjust ; Knock at the gates of nations , rouse their fears ; Say wrath is ...
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Common terms and phrases
Aspasio beauty beneath bids blest boast breath call'd cause charg'd charms death Deist delight design'd distant divine dread dream e'en earth ease ev'ning ev'ry eyes fair fancy fear feel fire flow'r folly form'd frown fruit give glory grace grave hand happy hast heart Heav'n heav'nly honour hope hour human John Gilpin land learn'd light lov'd lyre mankind mercy mind muse nature Nature's Nebaioth never nymph o'er once peace perhaps pine-apples pity plac'd pleas'd pleasure plebeian poet poet's pow'r praise pray'r pride proud prove rapture rest rude sacred scene scorn seek seem'd shade shine sighs sight skies slave smile song soon soul sound stamp'd stand stream sweet taste teach telescopic eye thee theme thine thought TILDEN toil tongue trembling trifler truth Twas virtue waste WILLIAM COWPER wind wisdom worth youth
Popular passages
Page 280 - Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men, Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
Page 400 - I see, The same that oft in childhood solaced me ; Voice only fails, else how distinct they say, " Grieve not, my child, chase all thy fears away!
Page 401 - I heard the bell tolled on thy burial day, I saw the hearse that bore thee slow away, And, turning from my nursery window, drew A long, long sigh, and wept a last adieu ! But was it such ? It was. Where thou art gone Adieus and farewells are a sound unknown : May I but meet thee on that peaceful shore, The parting word shall pass my lips no more...
Page 298 - One song employs all nations: and all cry, " Worthy the Lamb, for He was slain for us! " The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks Shout to each other, and the mountain-tops From distant mountains catch the flying joy : Till, nation after nation taught the strain, Earth rolls the rapturous Hosanna round.
Page 337 - How fleet is a glance of the mind! Compared with the speed of its flight, The tempest itself lags behind. And the swift-winged arrows of light. When I think of my own native land, In a moment I seem to be there; But alas! recollection at hand Soon hurries me back to despair.
Page 185 - Make enemies of nations, who had else, Like kindred drops been mingled into one. Thus man devotes his brother, and destroys...
Page 231 - And having dropped the expected bag, pass on. He whistles as he goes, light-hearted wretch, • Cold and yet cheerful ; messenger of grief Perhaps to thousands, and of joy to some ; To him indifferent whether grief or joy. Houses in ashes, and the fall of stocks...
Page 271 - Patriots have toiled, and in their country's cause Bled nobly ; and their deeds, as they deserve, Receive proud recompense. We give in charge Their names to the sweet lyre. The historic muse, Proud of the treasure, marches with it down To latest times ; and sculpture, in her turn, Gives bond in stone and ever-during brass To guard them, and t...
Page 378 - The wind did blow, the cloak did fly, Like streamer long and gay, Till loop and button failing both At last it flew away. Then might all people well discern The bottles he had slung, A bottle swinging at each side As hath been said or sung. The dogs did bark, the children scream'd, Up flew the windows all, And every soul cried out, Well done ! As loud as he could bawl.
Page 402 - I would not trust my heart — the dear delight Seems so to be desired, perhaps I might — But no — what here we call our life is such, So little to be loved, and thou so much, That I should ill requite thee to constrain Thy unbound spirit into bonds again.