William Cowper ( 10 of 184 )
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face.
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face.
Detested sport,
That owes its pleasures to another's pain.
Detested sport,
That owes its pleasures to another's pain.
Call'd to the temple of impure delight
He that abstains, and he alone, does right.
If a read more
Call'd to the temple of impure delight
He that abstains, and he alone, does right.
If a wish wander that way, call it home;
He cannot long be safe whose wishes roam.
'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower
Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume;
And we are read more
'Tis liberty alone that gives the flower
Of fleeting life its lustre and perfume;
And we are weeds without it.
The earth was made so various, that the mind
Of desultory man, studious of change
And pleased read more
The earth was made so various, that the mind
Of desultory man, studious of change
And pleased with novelty, might be indulged.
The rout is Folly's circle, which she draws
With magic wand. So potent is the spell,
That read more
The rout is Folly's circle, which she draws
With magic wand. So potent is the spell,
That none decoy'd into that fatal ring,
Unless by Heaven's peculiar grace, escape.
There we grow early gray, but never wise.
Man on the dubious waves of error toss'd.
Man on the dubious waves of error toss'd.
What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching read more
What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.
True Charity, a plant divinely nurs'd.
True Charity, a plant divinely nurs'd.
