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Religion does not censure or exclude Unnumbered pleasures, harmlessly pursued.
William Cowper -
Some to the fascination of a name, Surrender judgment hoodwinked.
William Cowper
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Transforms old print To zigzag manuscript, and cheats the eyes Of gallery critics by a thousand arts.
William Cowper -
O Winter, ruler of the inverted year!
William Cowper -
Friends, books, a garden, and perhaps his pen, Delightful industry enjoy'd at home, An Nature, in her cultivated trim Dress'ed to his taste, inviting him abroad - Can he want occupation who has these?
William Cowper -
Misses! the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry-- Choose not alone a proper mate, But proper time to marry.
William Cowper -
No traveler e'er reached that blest abode who found not thorns and briers in his road.
William Cowper -
We turn to dust, and all our mightiest works die too.
William Cowper
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Could he with reason murmur at his case, Himself sole author of his own disgrace?
William Cowper -
A story, in which native humour reigns, Is often useful, always entertains; A graver fact, enlisted on your side, May furnish illustration, well applied; But sedentary weavers of long tales Give me the fidgets, and my patience fails.
William Cowper -
A fretful temper will divide the closest knot that may be tied, by ceaseless sharp corrosion; a temper passionate and fierce may suddenly your joys disperse at one immense explosion.
William Cowper -
Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appear'd, And ages ere the Mantuan swan was heard: To carry nature lengths unknown before, To give a Milton birth, ask'd ages more.
William Cowper -
How! leap into the pit our life to save? To save our life leap all into the grave.
William Cowper -
Great contest follows, and much learned dust Involves the combatants; each claiming truth, And truth disclaiming both.
William Cowper
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But conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs, Not as if raised by mere mechanic powers.
William Cowper -
There is a mixture of evil in everything we do; indulgence encourages us to encroach, while we Crabbe exercise the rights of children, we become childish.
William Cowper -
Without one friend, above all foes, Britannia gives the world repose.
William Cowper -
England, with all thy faults I love thee still, My country!
William Cowper -
A man renowned for repartee will seldom scruple to make free with friendship's finest feeling, will thrust a dagger at your breast, and say he wounded you in jest, by way of balm for healing.
William Cowper -
And hast thou sworn on every slight pretence, Till perjuries are common as bad pence, While thousands, careless of the damning sin, Kiss the book's outside, who ne'er look'd within?
William Cowper
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When scandal has new-minted an old lie, Or tax'd invention for a fresh supply, 'Tis call'd a satire, and the world appears Gathering around it with erected ears; A thousand names are toss'd into the crowd, Some whisper'd softly, and some twang'd aloud, Just as the sapience of an author's brain, Suggests it safe or dangerous to be plain.
William Cowper -
Religion, richest favor of the skies.
William Cowper -
[My kitten's] gambols are not to be described, and would be incredible, if they could.
William Cowper -
There is mercy in every place. And mercy, encouraging thought gives even affliction a grace and reconciles man to his lot.
William Cowper