An idler is a watch that wants both hands; As useless if it goes as when it stands. William Cowper More Quotes by William Cowper More Quotes From William Cowper I will venture to assert, that a just translation of any ancient poet in rhyme is impossible. No human ingenuity can be equal to the task of closing every couplet with sounds homotonous, expressing at the same time the full sense, and only the full sense of his original. William Cowper venture tasks sound Men deal with life as children with their play, William Cowper men life children No tree in all the grove but has its charms, Though each its hue peculiar. William Cowper hue peculiar tree The man to solitude accustom'd long, Perceives in everything that lives a tongue; Not animals alone, but shrubs and trees Have speech for him, and understood with ease, After long drought when rains abundant fall, He hears the herbs and flowers rejoicing all. William Cowper flower rain fall The path of sorrow, and that path alone, leads to the land where sorrow is unknown. William Cowper sadness sorrow land God made the country, and man made the town. William Cowper god men country No wild enthusiast could rest, till half the world like him was possessed. William Cowper half enthusiasm world I venerate the man whose heart is warm, Whose hands are pure, whose doctrine and whose life, Coincident, exhibit lucid proof That he is honest in the sacred cause. William Cowper heart men hands Some to the fascination of a name, Surrender judgment hoodwinked. William Cowper judgment fascination names And diff'ring judgments serve but to declare that truth lies somewhere, if we knew but where. William Cowper judgement truth lying Elegant as simplicity, and warm As ecstasy. William Cowper ecstasy warm simplicity For 'tis a truth well known to most, That whatsoever thing is lost, We seek it, ere it comes to light, In every cranny but the right. William Cowper well-known light loss Where men of judgment creep and feel their way, The positive pronounce without dismay. William Cowper positive men way Misery still delights to trace William Cowper delight misery cases His wit invites you by his looks to come, But when you knock, it never is at home. William Cowper wit home looks They best can judge a poet's worth, Who oft themselves have known The pangs of a poetic birth By labours of their own. William Cowper poetic birth judging And the tear that is wiped with a little address, May be follow'd perhaps by a smile. William Cowper addresses tears may Scenes must be beautiful which daily view'd William Cowper views beautiful country Fate steals along with silent tread, Found oftenest in what least we dread; Frowns in the storm with angry brow, But in the sunshine strikes the blow. William Cowper sunshine fate blow There is in souls a sympathy with sounds. William Cowper music soul sympathy
