William Cowper

An inadvertent step may crush the snail
That crawls at evening in the public path.
But he read more

An inadvertent step may crush the snail
That crawls at evening in the public path.
But he that has humanity, forewarned,
Will turn aside and let the reptile live.

Absence of occupation is not rest,
A mind quite vacant is a mind distress'd.

Absence of occupation is not rest,
A mind quite vacant is a mind distress'd.

Habits of close attention, thinking heads,
Become more rare as dissipation spreads,
Till authors hear at length read more

Habits of close attention, thinking heads,
Become more rare as dissipation spreads,
Till authors hear at length one general cry
Tickle and entertain us, or we die!

Meditation here may think down hours to moments. Here the heart may give a useful lesson to the head and read more

Meditation here may think down hours to moments. Here the heart may give a useful lesson to the head and learning wiser grow without his books.

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair.