William Cowper ( 10 of 184 )
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.
Prison'd in a parlour snug and small,
Like bottled wasps upon a southern wall.
Prison'd in a parlour snug and small,
Like bottled wasps upon a southern wall.
And spare the poet for his subject's sake.
And spare the poet for his subject's sake.
I would not have a slave to till my ground,
To carry me, to fan me while I sleep,
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I would not have a slave to till my ground,
To carry me, to fan me while I sleep,
And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth
That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd.
Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he read more
Assail'd by scandal and the tongue of strife,
His only answer was a blameless life;
And he that forged, and he that threw the dart,
Had each a brother's interest in his heart.
A kick that scarce would move a horse,
May kill a sound divine.
A kick that scarce would move a horse,
May kill a sound divine.
There goes the parson, oh illustrious spark!
And there, scarce less illustrious, goes the clerk.
There goes the parson, oh illustrious spark!
And there, scarce less illustrious, goes the clerk.
Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
Absence of proof is not proof of absence.
Some to the fascination of a name,
Surrender judgment hoodwinked.
Some to the fascination of a name,
Surrender judgment hoodwinked.
Transforms old print
To zigzag manuscript, and cheats the eyes
Of gallery critics by a thousand arts.
Transforms old print
To zigzag manuscript, and cheats the eyes
Of gallery critics by a thousand arts.
