The Minor Poems of William Cowper of the Inner Temple |
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Page 18
... Muse , and in what powers of song , Can trace the torrent as it burns along ? Havoc and devastation in the van , It marches o'er the prostrate works of man ; Vines , olives , herbage , forests disappear , And all the charms of a ...
... Muse , and in what powers of song , Can trace the torrent as it burns along ? Havoc and devastation in the van , It marches o'er the prostrate works of man ; Vines , olives , herbage , forests disappear , And all the charms of a ...
Page 36
... Muses too , And lays his arrows by . If hinderances obstruct thy way , Thy magnanimity display , And let thy strength be seen ; But O ! if Fortune fill thy sail With more than a propitious gale , Take half thy canvass in . A REFLECTION ...
... Muses too , And lays his arrows by . If hinderances obstruct thy way , Thy magnanimity display , And let thy strength be seen ; But O ! if Fortune fill thy sail With more than a propitious gale , Take half thy canvass in . A REFLECTION ...
Page 50
... fee . Loved by the Muses , thy ingenuous mind Pleasing requital in my verse may find ; Verse oft has dash'd the scythe of Time aside , Immortalizing names which else had died . And oh ! could I command the glittering wealth With 50.
... fee . Loved by the Muses , thy ingenuous mind Pleasing requital in my verse may find ; Verse oft has dash'd the scythe of Time aside , Immortalizing names which else had died . And oh ! could I command the glittering wealth With 50.
Page 57
... muse ! forbear to speak Minute the horrours that ensued ; His teeth were strong , the cage was wood- He left poor ... Muses mourn— So , when by Bacchanalians torn , On Thracian Hebrus ' side The tree - enchanter Orpheus fell , His ...
... muse ! forbear to speak Minute the horrours that ensued ; His teeth were strong , the cage was wood- He left poor ... Muses mourn— So , when by Bacchanalians torn , On Thracian Hebrus ' side The tree - enchanter Orpheus fell , His ...
Page 63
... muse , And poets are oracles too . I did but express a desire To see Catharina at home , At the side of my friend George's fire , And lo - she is actually come . Such prophecy some may despise , But the wish of a poet and friend Perhaps ...
... muse , And poets are oracles too . I did but express a desire To see Catharina at home , At the side of my friend George's fire , And lo - she is actually come . Such prophecy some may despise , But the wish of a poet and friend Perhaps ...
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Common terms and phrases
ALEXANDEr selkirk Aspasio beneath bird boast bosom calender call'd Catharina charms COWPER cried dæmons dear death declension delight design'd divine dream dwell e'en earth Edmonton eyes fear feel flew flowers form'd friendship GEORGE ROMNEY Gilpin grace grief hear heard heart Heaven honour horse John Gilpin JOHN SHARPE JOSEPH HILL knew LADY learn'd length life's light live Mary mind MINOR POEMS Muses ne'er neighbour never night numbers nymph o'er once pass'd peace perhaps pine-apples pleasure poet poet's PORTBURY praise prove rest RICHARD WESTALL rose scene seem'd shine shore side sight sing skies smile song SONNET soon sorrow soul sound Stamp'd storm sweet tear tell thee theme thine Thou hast thought THRACIAN Throckmorton toil treasure truth Twas verse voice waste Whate'er WILLIAM COWPER WILLIAM HAYLEY wind wish wonder youth
Popular passages
Page 91 - Away went hat and wig; He little dreamt when he set out, Of running such a rig. 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 screamed, Up flew the windows all; And every soul cried out, Well done!
Page 54 - Thy silver locks, once auburn bright, Are still more lovely in my sight Than golden beams of orient light, My Mary ! For, could I view nor them nor thee, What sight worth seeing could I see ? The sun would rise in vain for me, My Mary ! Partakers of thy sad decline, Thy hands their little force resign ; Yet gently prest, press gently mine, My Mary!
Page 17 - My boast is not that I deduce my birth From loins enthroned, and rulers of the earth ; But higher far my proud pretensions rise — The son of parents passed into the skies.
Page 92 - Were shatter'd at a blow. Down ran the wine into the road, Most piteous to be seen, Which made his horse's flanks to smoke As they had basted been. But still he...
Page 16 - Shoots into port at some well-havened isle, Where spices breathe and brighter seasons smile, There sits quiescent on the floods, that show Her beauteous form reflected clear below, While airs impregnated with incense play Around her, fanning light her streamers gay, So thou, with sails how swift, hast reached the shore 'Where tempests never beat nor billows roar,' And thy loved consort on the dangerous tide Of life long since has anchored by thy side.
Page 95 - Ah ! luckless speech and bootless boast ! For which he paid full dear ; For, while he spake, a braying ass Did sing most loud and clear. Whereat his horse did snort, as he Had heard a lion roar, And gallop'd off with all his might, As he had done before.
Page 15 - Thy nightly visits to my chamber made, That thou mightst know me safe and warmly laid...
Page 90 - His long red cloak, well brush'd and neat, He manfully did throw. Now see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed, Full slowly pacing o'er the stones, With caution and good heed. But finding soon a smoother road Beneath his well-shod feet, The snorting beast began to trot, Which gall'd him in his seat. So,
Page 36 - He spied far off, upon the ground, A something shining in the dark, And knew the glow-worm by his spark; So, stooping down from hawthorn top, He thought to put him in his crop. The worm, aware of his intent, Harangued him thus, right eloquent — Did you admire my lamp...
Page 53 - Twas my distress that brought thee low, My Mary! Thy needles, once a shining store, For my sake restless heretofore, Now rust disused, and shine no more ; My Mary...