The Task: A Poem in Six Books ... |
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Page 7
... theme ; The theme , though humble , yet august and proud Th ' occasion - for the fair commands the song . Time was , when clothing , sumptuous or for use , Save their own painted skins , our sires had none . As yet black breeches were ...
... theme ; The theme , though humble , yet august and proud Th ' occasion - for the fair commands the song . Time was , when clothing , sumptuous or for use , Save their own painted skins , our sires had none . As yet black breeches were ...
Page 37
... themes of sad import , That , lost in his own musings , happy man ! 300 He feels the anxieties of life denied Their wonted entertainment ; all retire . Such joys has he that sings . But ah ! not such , Or seldom such , the hearers of ...
... themes of sad import , That , lost in his own musings , happy man ! 300 He feels the anxieties of life denied Their wonted entertainment ; all retire . Such joys has he that sings . But ah ! not such , Or seldom such , the hearers of ...
Page 38
... theme divine , His office sacred , his credentials clear . By him the violated law speaks out Its thunders and by him , in strains as sweet As angels use , the Gospel whispers peace . He ' stablishes the strong , restores the weak ...
... theme divine , His office sacred , his credentials clear . By him the violated law speaks out Its thunders and by him , in strains as sweet As angels use , the Gospel whispers peace . He ' stablishes the strong , restores the weak ...
Page 41
... themes Through the press'd nostril , spectacle - bestrid . Some , decent in demeanour while they preach , That task perform'd , relapse into themselves ; And , having spoken wisely , at the close Grow wanton , and give proof to ev'ry ...
... themes Through the press'd nostril , spectacle - bestrid . Some , decent in demeanour while they preach , That task perform'd , relapse into themselves ; And , having spoken wisely , at the close Grow wanton , and give proof to ev'ry ...
Page 52
... , He cherups brisk his ear - erecting steed , And winds his way with pleasure and with ease ! So I , designing other themes , and call'd T'adorn the Sofa with eulogium due , 10 To tell its slumbers , and to paint its dreams THE TASK. ...
... , He cherups brisk his ear - erecting steed , And winds his way with pleasure and with ease ! So I , designing other themes , and call'd T'adorn the Sofa with eulogium due , 10 To tell its slumbers , and to paint its dreams 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.