Project Gutenberg 2003-01-01 Public domain in the USA. 950 Cowper, William 1731 1800 The Task, and Other Poems The Task -- The Diverting History of John Gilpin -- An Epistle to Joseph Hill, Esq. -- To Mary. This eBook was produced by Les Bowler, St. Ives, Dorset "The Task and Other Poems" by William Cowper is a collection of poetry written in the late 18th century. It encompasses a range of themes, with "The Task," a significant component of the collection, being a lengthy didactic poem that reflects on nature, domesticity, and the human condition. The opening book focuses specifically on the humble yet integral piece of furniture, the sofa, serving as a springboard for deeper musings on life, health, and the comforts of home. At the start of "The Task," Cowper introduces a mix of personal reflection and societal commentary, commencing with an ode to the sofa as a symbol of rest and comfort. He contrasts various forms of seating and discusses their evolution while interspersing his own love for nature, detailing serene walks and rural beauty. The poet's nostalgia for the freedom of youth and his appreciation for the simple pleasures of life set the tone for the poem. This reflective lens expands into broader observations about human life, connection to nature, and the pursuit of true happiness, weaving through Cowper's contemplations on the vanities of society and the cultivation of virtue. (This is an automatically generated summary.) en English poetry -- 18th century PR Text Browsing: Literature Browsing: Poetry 304837 304752 2024-10-02T09:35:28.184247 2023-10-02T08:32:46.839534 text/html text/html 312340 2015-03-29T04:45:08 text/html 684193 2021-01-08T22:43:28 text/html application/zip 684098 2024-10-02T09:35:35.159766 application/epub+zip 685627 2024-10-02T09:35:29.419250 application/epub+zip 167821 2024-10-02T09:35:28.690251 application/epub+zip 795167 2024-10-02T09:35:38.432709 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 765943 2024-10-02T09:35:34.473237 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 249438 2022-09-02T11:18:37.386453 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 279115 279077 2024-10-02T09:35:26.861276 2023-10-02T08:32:45.766548 text/plain; charset=us-ascii text/plain 286663 2015-03-29T04:44:51 text/plain; charset=utf-8 115048 2021-01-08T22:43:28 text/plain; charset=utf-8 application/zip 278935 2021-01-08T22:43:28 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 113924 2021-01-08T22:43:28 text/plain; charset=us-ascii application/zip 21072 2024-10-02T09:35:38.576691 application/rdf+xml 25956 2024-10-02T09:35:28.798255 image/jpeg 3827 2024-10-02T09:35:28.745243 image/jpeg 687680 2024-10-02T09:35:28.225260 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia