My soul! henceforth, in sweetest union join Which some, erroneous, think can never meet; Eternity, thy prize : And leave the racers of the world their own, Seize wisdom, ere 'tis torment to be wise; That is, seize wisdom, ere she seizes thee. For, what, my small philosopher! is hell? 'Tis nothing, but full knowledge of the truth, When truth, resisted long, * becomes our foe; And calls eternity to do her right. p. 355. EXTRACTS FROM COWPER'S TASK. The gouty limb, 'tis true; but gouty limb, The sofa suits p. 33. Scenes that sooth'd Though on a sofa, may I never feel: Or charm'd me young, no longer young, I find Still soothing, and of power to charm me still. p. 34. Scenes must be beautiful, which, daily view'd, I call'd the low-roof'd lodge the peasant's nest. And hidden as it is, and far remote p. 35. From such unpleasing sounds as haunt the ear EXTRACTS FROM COWPER'S TASK. Vain thought! the dweller in that still retreat * If solitude make scant the means of life, Be still a pleasing object in my view; My visit still, but never mine abode. p. 38. Our foot half sunk in hillocks green and soft, Rais'd by the mole, the miner of the soil. By rural carvers, who with knives deface Beats in the breast of man, that e'en a few, p. 39. Few transient years, won from th' abyss abhorr'd, And even to a clown. p. 40. Now glitters in the sun, and now retires, As bashful yet impatient to be seen. The guiltless eye p. 41. Commits no wrong, nor wastes what it enjoys. p. 41. 51 E'en the oak Thrives by the rude concussion of the storm. * More fix'd below, the more disturb’d above. The law, by which all creatures else are bound, Binds man the lord of all. Himself derives p. 43. No mean advantage from a kindred cause, From strenuous toil his hours of sweetest ease. p. 43. The spleen is seldom felt where Flora reigns. p. 46. Whom call we gay? That honour has been long The boast of mere pretenders to the name. The innocent are gay. But save me from the gaiety of those Whose head-aches nail them to a noon-day bed. p. 47. From gaiety that fills the bones with pain, The mouth with blasphemy, the heart with woe. Prospects, however lovely, may be seen Till half their beauties fade; the weary sight, Too well acquainted with their smiles, slides off, Then snug enclosures in the shelter'd vale, Not senseless of its charms, what still we love, p. 47. p. 48. She begs an idle pin of all she meets, And hoards them in her sleeve; but needful food, Though press'd with hunger oft, or comelier clothes, Though pinch'd with cold, asks never.-Kate is craz'd! p. 49. Hard-faring race! They pick their fuel out of ev'ry hedge, Which, kindled with dry leaves, just saves unquench'd The spark of life. p. 50. And, breathing wholesome air, and wand'ring much, Need other physic none to heal th' effects Of loathsome diet, penury, and cold. Blest he, though undistinguish'd from the crowd |