The Present Good

From “The Task,” Book VI. NOT to understand a treasure’s worth Till time has stol’n away the slighted good, Is cause of half the poverty we feel, And makes the world the wilderness it is.

Collection: 
1751
Sub Title: 
II. Parting and Absence

More from Poet

Between Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose; The spectacles set them, unhappily, wrong; The point in dispute was, as all the world knows, To whom the said spectacles ought to belong. So Tongue was the lawyer, and argued the cause, With a great deal of skill, and a wig full of learning,...

Showing How He Went Farther Than He Intended, and Came Safe Home Again JOHN GILPIN was a citizen Of credit and renown, A trainband captain eke was he Of famous London town. John Gilpin’s spouse said to her dear— “Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday...

From “The Timepiece”: “The Task,” Book. II. ENGLAND, with all thy faults, I love thee still,— My country! and, while yet a nook is left Where English minds and manners may be found, Shall be constrained to love thee. Though thy clime Be fickle, and thy year most part deformed With dripping rains...

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will. Ye fearful, fresh courage take! The clouds ye so much...

Written When the News Arrived; 1782 TOLL for the brave,— The brave that are no more! All sunk beneath the wave, Fast by their native shore. Eight hundred of the brave, Whose courage well was tried, Had made the vessel heel, And laid her on her side. A land-breeze shook the shrouds, And...