The Minor Poems of William Cowper of the Inner Temple |
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Page 15
... jessamine , I prick'd them into paper with a pin , ( And thou wast happier than myself the while , Wouldst softly speak , and stroke my head , and smile ) , Could those few pleasant days again appear , Might one B 2 15.
... jessamine , I prick'd them into paper with a pin , ( And thou wast happier than myself the while , Wouldst softly speak , and stroke my head , and smile ) , Could those few pleasant days again appear , Might one B 2 15.
Page 37
... head . The cup was all fill'd , and the leaves were all wet , And it seem'd , to a fanciful view , To weep for the buds it had left with regret , On the flourishing bush where it grew . I hastily seized it , unfit as it was For a ...
... head . The cup was all fill'd , and the leaves were all wet , And it seem'd , to a fanciful view , To weep for the buds it had left with regret , On the flourishing bush where it grew . I hastily seized it , unfit as it was For a ...
Page 40
... head , Ere another such grove shall arise in its stead . The change both my heart and my fancy employs , I reflect on the frailty of man , and his joys ; Short - lived as we are , yet our pleasures , we see , Have a still shorter date ...
... head , Ere another such grove shall arise in its stead . The change both my heart and my fancy employs , I reflect on the frailty of man , and his joys ; Short - lived as we are , yet our pleasures , we see , Have a still shorter date ...
Page 49
... head : and couldst with music sweet Of attic phrase and senatorial tone , Like thy renown'd forefathers , far and wide Thy fame diffuse , praised not for utterance meet Of others ' speech , but magic of thy own . SONNET TO JOHN JOHNSON ...
... head : and couldst with music sweet Of attic phrase and senatorial tone , Like thy renown'd forefathers , far and wide Thy fame diffuse , praised not for utterance meet Of others ' speech , but magic of thy own . SONNET TO JOHN JOHNSON ...
Page 57
... weeps the Muses mourn— So , when by Bacchanalians torn , On Thracian Hebrus ' side The tree - enchanter Orpheus fell , His head alone remain'd to tell The cruel death he died . THE POET'S NEW - YEAR'S - GIFT . TO MRS 57.
... weeps the Muses mourn— So , when by Bacchanalians torn , On Thracian Hebrus ' side The tree - enchanter Orpheus fell , His head alone remain'd to tell The cruel death he died . THE POET'S NEW - YEAR'S - GIFT . TO MRS 57.
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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...