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Misses! the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry-- Choose not alone a proper mate, But proper time to marry.
William Cowper -
Religion does not censure or exclude Unnumbered pleasures, harmlessly pursued.
William Cowper
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If hindrances obstruct the way, Thy magnanimity display. And let thy strength be seen: But O, if Fortune fill thy sail With more than a propitious gale, Take half thy canvas in.
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 -
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 -
Could he with reason murmur at his case, Himself sole author of his own disgrace?
William Cowper
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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 -
Some to the fascination of a name, Surrender judgment hoodwinked.
William Cowper -
How! leap into the pit our life to save? To save our life leap all into the grave.
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 -
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 -
Great contest follows, and much learned dust Involves the combatants; each claiming truth, And truth disclaiming both.
William Cowper
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Religion, richest favor of the skies.
William Cowper -
England, with all thy faults I love thee still, My country!
William Cowper -
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 -
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 -
Mercy to him that shows it, is the rule.
William Cowper -
All affectation; 'tis my perfect scorn; Object of my implacable disgust.
William Cowper
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It is a general rule of Judgment, that a mischief should rather be admitted than an inconvenience.
William Cowper -
Existence is a strange bargain. Life owes us little; we owe it everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.
William Cowper -
Without one friend, above all foes, Britannia gives the world repose.
William Cowper -
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