The Task: A Poem in Six Books ... |
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Page 10
... feel : For I have lov'd the rural walk through lanes 90 36 95 100 105 Of grassy swarth , close cropp'd by nibbling sheep , 110 And skirted thick with intertexture firm Of thorny boughs ; have lov'd the rural walk O'er hills , through ...
... feel : For I have lov'd the rural walk through lanes 90 36 95 100 105 Of grassy swarth , close cropp'd by nibbling sheep , 110 And skirted thick with intertexture firm Of thorny boughs ; have lov'd the rural walk O'er hills , through ...
Page 14
... feel at ev'ry step 245 250 255 260 265 270 Our foot half sunk in hillocks green and soft , Rais'd by the .nole , the ininer of the soil . He , not unlike the great ones of mankind , Disfigures Earth : and , plotting in the dark , 275 ...
... feel at ev'ry step 245 250 255 260 265 270 Our foot half sunk in hillocks green and soft , Rais'd by the .nole , the ininer of the soil . He , not unlike the great ones of mankind , Disfigures Earth : and , plotting in the dark , 275 ...
Page 17
... feel the fresh'ning impulse , and are cleans'd By restless undulation : e'en the oak Thrives by the rude concussion of the storm : He seems indeed indignant , and to feel Th ' impression of the blast with proud disdain , Frowning , as ...
... feel the fresh'ning impulse , and are cleans'd By restless undulation : e'en the oak Thrives by the rude concussion of the storm : He seems indeed indignant , and to feel Th ' impression of the blast with proud disdain , Frowning , as ...
Page 29
... with which earth is fill'd . There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart ; It does not feel for man ; the natural bond Of brotherhood is sever'd , as the flax , 10 That falls asunder at the touch of fire . 1 3 * THE TASK. ...
... with which earth is fill'd . There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart ; It does not feel for man ; the natural bond Of brotherhood is sever'd , as the flax , 10 That falls asunder at the touch of fire . 1 3 * THE TASK. ...
Page 30
... let it circulate through ev'ry vein Of all your empire : that , where Britain's pow'r Is felt , mankind may feel her mercy too . Sure there is need of social intercourse , 45 Benevolence , and peace , and mutual aid , Between 30 THE TASK .
... let it circulate through ev'ry vein Of all your empire : that , where Britain's pow'r Is felt , mankind may feel her mercy too . Sure there is need of social intercourse , 45 Benevolence , and peace , and mutual aid , Between 30 THE TASK .
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Common terms and phrases
beauty beneath boast breath call'd cause charg'd charms clime death Deciduous deep delight distant divine domestick dream e'en earth ease ev'ning ev'ry fair fancy fast favour'd fear feeds feel field of glory fix'd flow'rs folly form'd fountain of eternal frown fruit gives glory grace grave groves hand happy heart Heav'n honour hopes and fears Hosanna human king labour learn'd less liberty lost lov'd lyre magick mercy Mighty winds mind mov'd musick nature Nature's Nebaioth never nymphs o'er once peace perhaps pleas'd pleasures polish'd pow'r praise proud publick rapture riddance rude rural sacred sake scene seek seem'd shade shine sighs silent sleep sloth smiles Sofa soft song soon soul sound spleen stream sweet sycophant task taste thee theme thine thou art toil touch'd trembling truth Twas vale virtue weary wind winter wisdom worth
Popular passages
Page 144 - One song employs all nations; and all cry, ' Worthy the Lamb, for he was slain for us!' The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks Shout to each other, and the mountain tops From distant mountains catch the flying joy; Till, nation after nation taught the strain, Earth rolls the rapturous Hosanna round.
Page 129 - The Lord of all, himself through all diffused, Sustains, and is the life of all that lives. Nature is but a name for an effect, Whose cause is God.
Page 77 - Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And while the bubbling and loud-hissing urn Throws up a steamy column, and the cups That cheer but not inebriate, wait on each, So let us welcome peaceful evening in.
Page 145 - Nebaioth, and the flocks of Kedar there; The looms of Ormus, and the mines of Ind, And Saba's spicy groves, pay tribute there. Praise is in all her gates; upon her walls, And in her streets, and in her spacious courts, Is heard salvation. Eastern Java there Kneels with the native of the farthest West; And Ethiopia spreads abroad the hand, And worships.
Page 12 - Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds, Exhilarate the spirit, and restore The tone of languid Nature. Mighty winds, That sweep the skirt of some far-spreading wood Of ancient growth, make music not unlike The dash of ocean on his winding shore, And lull the spirit while they fill the mind; Unnumber'd branches waving in the blast, And all their leaves fast flutt'ring, all at once.
Page 118 - He looks abroad into the varied field Of nature, and though poor perhaps, compared With those whose mansions glitter in his sight, Calls the delightful scenery all his own. His are the mountains, and the valleys his, And the resplendent rivers.
Page 125 - The night was winter in his roughest mood, The morning sharp and clear. But now at noon Upon the southern side of the slant hills, And where the woods fence off the northern blast, The season smiles, resigning all its rage, And has the warmth of May. The vault is blue Without a cloud, and white without a speck The dazzling splendour of the scene below...
Page 40 - Would I describe a preacher, such as Paul, Were he on earth, would hear, approve, and own — Paul should himself direct me. I would trace His master-strokes, and draw from his design. I would express him simple, grave, sincere; In doctrine uncorrupt ; in language plain, And plain in manner ; decent, solemn, chaste, And natural in gesture; much impress'd Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds May feel it too ; affectionate in look, And tender in address,...
Page 13 - But cawing rooks, and kites that swim sublime In still repeated circles, screaming loud, The jay, the pie, and e'en the boding owl, That hails the rising moon, have charms for me. Sounds inharmonious in themselves and harsh, Yet heard in scenes where peace for ever reigns, And only there, please highly for their sake.
Page 126 - Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men ; Wisdom in minds attentive to their own. 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.