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"Scenes must be beautiful, which, daily viewed,
Please daily, and whose novelty survives
Long knowledge and the scrutiny of years—"
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. The Task (I, l. 177-179). . .
Norton Anthology of English Literature, The, Vols. I-II. M. H. Abrams, general ed. (5th ed., 1986) W. W. Norton & Company. |
"Hatred and vengeance, my eternal portion,
Scarce can endure delay of execution:—
Wait, with impatient readiness, to seize my
Soul in a moment."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. The Task. . .
Oxford Anthology of English Literature, The, Vols. I-II. Frank Kermode and John Hollander, general eds. (1973) Oxford University Press (Also published as six paperback vols.: Medieval English Literature, J. B. Trapp, ed.; The Literature of Renaissance England, John Hollander and Frank Kermode, eds.; The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century, Martin Price, ed.; Romantic Poetry and Prose, Harold Bloom and Lionel Trilling, eds.; Victorian Prose and Poetry, Lionel Trilling and Harold Bloom, eds.; Modern British Literature, Frank Kermode and John Hollander, eds.). |
"Him, the vindictive rod of angry justice
Sent, quick and howling, to the centre headlong;
I, fed with judgements,in a fleshy tomb, am
Buried above ground."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. The Task. . .
Oxford Anthology of English Literature, The, Vols. I-II. Frank Kermode and John Hollander, general eds. (1973) Oxford University Press (Also published as six paperback vols.: Medieval English Literature, J. B. Trapp, ed.; The Literature of Renaissance England, John Hollander and Frank Kermode, eds.; The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century, Martin Price, ed.; Romantic Poetry and Prose, Harold Bloom and Lionel Trilling, eds.; Victorian Prose and Poetry, Lionel Trilling and Harold Bloom, eds.; Modern British Literature, Frank Kermode and John Hollander, eds.). |
"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."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. repr. In Poetical Works, ed. H.S. Milford (1934). The Task, bk. 6, l. 92-7 (1785). |
"Variety's the very spice of life
That gives it all its flavour."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. repr. In Poetical Works, ed. H.S. Milford (1934). The Task, bk. 2, l. 606-7 (1785). |
"How oft upon yon eminence our pace
Has slackened to a pause, and we have borne
The ruffling wind, scarce conscious that it blew,
While admiration, feeding at the eye,
And still unsated, dwelt upon the scene."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. The Task (I, l. 154-158). . .
Norton Anthology of English Literature, The, Vols. I-II. M. H. Abrams, general ed. (5th ed., 1986) W. W. Norton & Company. |
"Nature inanimate employs sweet sounds,
But animated nature sweeter still,
To soothe and satisfy the human ear."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. The Task (I, l. 197-199).
NAEL-1. Norton Anthology of English Literature, The, Vols. I-II. M. H. Abrams, general ed. (5th ed., 1986) W. W. Norton & Company. |
"Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,
Exhilarate the spirit, and restore
The tone of languid Nature."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. The Task (I, l. 181-183). . .
Norton Anthology of English Literature, The, Vols. I-II. M. H. Abrams, general ed. (5th ed., 1986) W. W. Norton & Company. |
"O, popular applause! what heart of man
Is proof against thy sweet, seducing charms?"
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. repr. In Poetical Works, ed. H.S. Milford (1934). The Task, bk. 2, l. 481-2 (1785). |
"Man disavows, the Deity disowns me.
Hell might afford my miseries a shelter;
Therefore hell keeps her everhungry mouths all
Bolted against me."
William Cowper (1731-1800), British poet. The Task. . .
Oxford Anthology of English Literature, The, Vols. I-II. Frank Kermode and John Hollander, general eds. (1973) Oxford University Press (Also published as six paperback vols.: Medieval English Literature, J. B. Trapp, ed.; The Literature of Renaissance England, John Hollander and Frank Kermode, eds.; The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century, Martin Price, ed.; Romantic Poetry and Prose, Harold Bloom and Lionel Trilling, eds.; Victorian Prose and Poetry, Lionel Trilling and Harold Bloom, eds.; Modern British Literature, Frank Kermode and John Hollander, eds.). |
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