William Cowper poetry
famous and familiar quotations
Here are some famous and familiar quotations from William
Cowper poetry:-
O for a lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity of shade,
Where rumour of oppression and deceit,
Of unsuccessful or successful war,
Might never reach me more.
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But war's a game which, were their subjects wise,
King's would not play at.
Mountains interposed,
Make enemies of nations who had else,
Like kindred drops, been mingled into one.
He sees that this great roundabout
The world, with all its motley rout,
Church, army, physic, law,
Its customs and its businesses,
Is no concern at all of his,
And says - what says he? - Caw.
There is a pleasure in poetic pains
Which only poets know.
How fleet is a glance of the mind!
Compared with the speed of its flight
The tempest itself lags behind,
And the swift-winged arrows of light.
How various his employments, whom the world
Calls idle; and who justly in return
Esteems that busy world an idler too!
He is the freeman whom the truth makes free.
Variety's the very spice of life,
That gives it all its flavour.
He that holds fast the golden mean,
And lives contentedly between
The little and the great,
Feels not the want that pinch the poor,
Nor plagues that haunt the rich man's door.
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
Books are not seldom talismans and spells.
Misses! the tale that I relate
This lesson seems to carry,-
Choose not alone a proper mate,
But proper time to marry.
More famous and familiar quotations from William
Cowper are to be found on our "Central" poetry insights page and
our "Other" poetry insights page. |
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![[Cowper, quotations]](poem.gif)