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William Cowper
William Cowper
- We perished, each alone:
But I beneath a rougher sea,
And whelmed in deeper gulfs than he.‘The Castaway’ (written 1799) l. 61 - Grief is itself a med'cine.‘Charity’ (1782) l. 159
- 'Tis hard if all is false that I advance
A fool must now and then be right, by chance.‘Conversation’ (1782) l. 95 - The pipe with solemn interposing puff,
Makes half a sentence at a time enough;
The dozing sages drop the drowsy strain,
Then pause, and puff—and speak, and pause again.‘Conversation’ (1782) l. 95 - The man that hails you Tom or Jack,
And proves by thumps upon your back
How he esteems your merit,
Is such a friend, that one had need
Be very much his friend indeed
To pardon or to bear it.‘Friendship’ (1782) - John Gilpin was a citizen
Of credit and renown.‘John Gilpin’ (1785) l. 1 - Beware of desperate steps. The darkest day
(Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.‘The Needless Alarm’ (written c.1790) - God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.Olney Hymns (1779) ‘Light Shining out of Darkness’ - Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.Olney Hymns (1779) ‘Light Shining out of Darkness’ - Oh! for a closer walk with God.Olney Hymns (1779) ‘Walking with God’
- Toll for the brave—
The brave! that are no more.‘On the Loss of the Royal George’ (written 1782) - Thus first necessity invented stools,
Convenience next suggested elbow-chairs,
And luxury the accomplished sofa last.The Task (1785) bk. 1 ‘The Sofa’ l. 86 - God made the country, and man made the town.The Task (1785) bk. 1 ‘The Sofa’ l. 749; see Cowley
- Slaves cannot breathe in England, if their lungs
Receive our air, that moment they are free.The Task (1785) bk. 2 ‘The Timepiece’ l. 40; see Anonymous - England, with all thy faults, I love thee still—
My country!The Task (1785) bk. 2 ‘The Timepiece’ l. 206; see Churchill - Variety's the very spice of life,
That gives it all its flavour.The Task (1785) bk. 2 ‘The Timepiece’ l. 606; see Behn - The cups,
That cheer but not inebriate.The Task (1785) bk. 4 ‘The Winter Evening’ l. 37; see Berkeley - I crown thee king of intimate delights,
Fire-side enjoyments, home-born happiness.The Task (1785) bk. 4 ‘The Winter Evening’ l. 139 - Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.The Task (1785) bk. 6 ‘The Winter Walk at Noon’ l. 89 - Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.The Task (1785) bk. 6 ‘The Winter Walk at Noon’ l. 96 - I would not enter on my list of friends
(Tho' graced with polished manners and fine sense,
Yet wanting sensibility) the man
Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm.The Task (1785) bk. 6 ‘The Winter Walk at Noon’ l. 560 - I am monarch of all I survey,
My right there is none to dispute;
From the centre all round to the sea
I am lord of the foul and the brute.‘Verses Supposed to be Written by Alexander Selkirk’ (1782)
