A Dictionary of Poetical Illustrations

588. CONTENTMENT : brings happiness.
What happiness the rural maid attends,
In cheerful labour while each day she spends !
She gratefully receives what Heaven has sent,
And, rich in poverty, enjoys content. —Gay.

Who never melts or thaws
At close temptations : when the day is done,
His goodness sets not, but in dark can run :

The sun to others writeth laws,
And is their virtue ; virtue is his sun,

Who when he is to treat
With sick folks, women, those whom passions sway,
Allows for that, and keeps his constant way;

Whom others' faults do not defeat;
But though man fail him, yet his part doth play.

Whom nothing can procure,
When the wide world runs bias, from his will
To writhe his limbs, and share, not mend, the ill.

This is the marksman, safe and sure, Who still is right, and prays to be so still.

George Herbert. When all things have their trial, you shall find Nothing is constant but a virtuous mind.

Shirley. 585. CONTEMPLATION. Votary of He sat within a silent cave, apart

From men, upon a chair of diamond stone ;

Words he had not, companions he had none,
But steadfastly pursued his thoughtful art ;
And as he mused he pulld a slender string

Which evermore within his hand he held ;

And the dim curtain rose which had conceal'd
His thoughts, the city of the immortal King :

There, pictured in its solemn pomp, it lay,
A glorious country stretching round about,
And through its golden gates pass'd in and out

Men of all nations, on their heavenly way.
On this he mused, and mused the whole day long,
Feeding his feeble faith till it grew strong.-Croly.

He that holds fast the golden mean,
And lives contentedly between

The little and the great,
Feels not the want that pinch the poor,
Nor plagues that haunt the rich man's door,

Embittering all his state.-Cowper.
Think'st thou the man whose mansions hold
The worldling's pomp and miser's gold

Obtains a richer prize
Than he who, in his cot at rest,
Finds heavenly peace a willing guest,
And bears the promise in his breast

Of treasure in the skies ?–Mrs Sigourney.

589. CONTENTMENT: characteristic of the

noblest minds.

The noblest mind the best contentment has.

Spenser.

All great souls still make their own content ;
We to ourselves may all our wishes grant ;
For, nothing coveting, we nothing want.

Dryden. 590. CONTENTMENT : comes from within.

586. CONTENTMENT : a Christian duty. BE still, my soul, Jehovah loveth thee ;

Fret not, nor murmur at thy weary lot ; Though dark and lone thy journey seems to be,

Be sure that thou art ne'er by Him forgot. He ever loves; then trust Him, trust Him still; Let all thy care be this--the doing of His will ; Canst thou not trust His rich and bounteous hand, Who feeds all living things on sea and land ?

Be thou content.

Cellars and granaries in vain we fill

With all the bounteous summer's store,
If the mind thirst and hunger still :

The poor rich man's emphatically poor.
Slaves to the things we too much prize,
We masters grow of all that we despise.

Cowley.. Yet oft we see that some in humble state

Are cheerful, pleasant, happy, and content : When those indeed that are of higher state, With vain additions do their thoughts torment.

Lady Carew.

587. CONTENTMENT: a crown.

CONTENTMENT, rosy, dimpled maid,

Thou brightest daughter of the sky,
Why dost thou to the hut repair,

And from the gilded palace fly?
I've traced thee on the peasant's cheek ;

I've mark'd thee in the milkmaid's smile; I've heard thee loudly laugh and speak

Amid the sons of want and toil ; Yet in the circles of the great,

Where fortune's gifts are all combined,

My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen : my crown is call'd content ;
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.

Shakespeare.

I've sought thee early, sought thee late,

Enough I reckon wealth : a mean the surest lot, And ne'er thy lovely form could find.

That lies too high for base contempt, too low for Since then from wealth and pomp you flee,

envy's shot. I ask but competence and thee!

My wishes are but few, all easy to fulfil,
Lady Manners, I make the limits of my power the bonds unto my

will.
Some murmur when their sky is clear,

I have no hopes but one, which is of heavenly reign; And wholly bright to view,

Effects attain'd, or not desired, all lower hopes If one small speck of dark appear

refrain. In their great heaven of blue ;

I feel no care of coin, well-doing is my wealth, And some with thankful love are fill'd,

My mind to me an empire is, while grace affordeth
If but one streak of light,

health. --Southwell.
One ray of God's good mercy, gild
The darkness of their night.

594. CONTENTMENT. Growth of
In palaces are hearts that ask,

O YEARS gone down into the past !
In discontent and pride,

What pleasant memories come to me
Why life is such a weary task,

Of your untroubled days of peace,
And all good things denied ?

And hours of almost ecstasy!
And hearts in poorest huts admire,
How love has in their aid

Yet would I have no moon stand still,
(Love that not ever seems to tire)

Where life's most pleasant valleys lie;
Such rich provision made.- Trench.

Nor wheel the planet of the day

Rack on his pathway through the sky. 591. CONTENTMENT. Contrast of

For though, when youthful pleasures died,

My youth itself went with them, too; Ten poor men sleep in peace on one straw heap, as

To-day, ay ! ev'n this very hour, Saadi sings,

Is the best hour I ever knew. But the immensest empire is too narrow for two kings.-Oriental.

Not that my Father gives to me

More blessings than in days gone by, 592. CONTENTMENT. Cultivating

Dropping in my uplifted hands

All things for which I blindly cry ;
If we cannot have all that we wish upon earth,
Let us try to be happy with less if we can;

But that His plans and purposes
If wealth be not always the guerdon of worth,

Have grown to me less strange and dim; Worth, sooner than wealth, makes the happier

And where I cannot understand, man.

I trust the issues unto Him. Is it wise to be anxious for pleasures afar,

And spite of many broken dreams, And the pleasures around us to slight or decry?

This have I truly learn'd to sayAsking Night for the sun,-asking Day for the star ? |

Prayers which I thought unanswer'd once Let us conquer such faults, or at least let us try.

Were answer'd in God's own best way. If the soil of a garden be worthy our care,

And though some hopes I cherish'd once, Its culture delightful, though ever so small ;

Perish'd untimely in their birth, Oh then let the heart the same diligence share,

Yet have I been beloved and blest
And the flowers of affection will rival them all.

1 them all
Beyond the measure of my worth.

Phæbe Carey.
There ne'er was delusion more constantly shown,
Than that wealth every charm of existence can buy;

595. CONTENTMENT : its power. As long as love, friendship, and truth are life's own, There is a jewel which no Indian mine can buy, All hearts may be happy, if all hearts will try! No chemic art can counterfeit;

Charles Swain. It makes men rich in greatest poverty, 593. CONTENTMENT : gained.

Makes water wine, turns wooden cups to gold,

The homely whistle to sweet music's strain : My conscience is my crown, contented thoughts my Seldom it comes, to few from heaven sent, rest,

That much in little—all in nought-content. My heart is happy in itself, my bliss is in my breast.

Wilbye.

Contentment gives a crown,

599. CONTENTMENT : widely diffused. Where fortune hath denied it. ---Ford.

WHATE'ER the passion, knowledge, fame, or pelf, Unfit for greatness, I her snares defy,

Not one will change his neighbour with himself. And look on riches with untainted eye :

The learn'd is happy nature to explore, To others let the glitt'ring baubles fall;

The fool is happy that he knows no more ; Content shall place me far above them all. The rich is happy in the plenty given,

Churchill. The poor contents him with the care of Heaven. 596. CONTENTMENT. Nobility of

See the blind beggar dance, the cripple sing,

The sot a hero, lunatic a king,
Ev'N I-but I can laugh and sing,

The starving chemist in his golden views
Though fetter'd and confined, -

Supremely bless'd, the poet in his muse. - Pope.
My mind I may to fortune bring,
Not fortune to my mind.

600. CONTRIBUTION-BOX. The How seldom is our good enjoy'd,

Two spiders, so the story goes,
Our ill how hardly borne,

Upon a living bent,
When all our fancies are employ'd

Enter'd the meeting-house one day,
To kick against the thorn !

And hopefully were heard to say,
But, sure, ourselves aright to see

“Here we shall have at least fair play, True wisdom well may bear :

With nothing to prevent.' 'Tis nobly great to dare to be

Each chose his place and went to work,
No greater than we are.

The light webs grew apace ;
Samuel Wesley, Jr.

One on the sofa spun his thread, 597. CONTENTMENT. Profession of

But shortly came the sexton dread,

And swept him off, and so, half-dead,
I WEIGH not fortune's frown or smile ;

He sought another place.
I joy not much in earthly joys;

*I'll try the pulpit next,' said he,
I seek not state, I seek not style;
I am not fond of fancy's toys;

“There surely is a prize ;

The desk appears so neat and clean, I rest so pleased with what I have,

I'm sure no spider there has been ; I wish no more, no more I crave.

Besides, how often have I seen
I see ambition never pleased ;

The pastor brushing Alies!'
I see some Tantals starved in store ;

He tried the pulpit, but alas !
I see gold's dropsy seldom eased ;

His hopes proved visionary ;
I see e'en Midas gape for more:

With dusting-brush the sexton came,
I neither want, nor yet abound-

And spoilt his geometric game, Enough's a feast, content is crown'd.

Nor gave him time nor space to claim
I feign not friendship where I hate ;

The right of sanctuary.
I fawn not on the great in show;

At length, half-starved and weak and lean, I prize, I praise a mean estate

He sought his former neighbour,
Neither too lofty nor too low :

Who now had grown so sleek and round, This, this is all my choice, my cheer

He weigh'd the fraction of a pound,
A mind content, a conscience clear.

And look'd as if the art he'd found
Joshua Sylvester.

Of living without labour.
598. CONTENTMENT : the object of universal How is it, friend,' he ask'd, that I
pursuit.

Endured such thumps and knocks, LIFE's but a short chase ; our game-content,

While you have grown so very gross ?' Which most pursued, is most compellid to fly; 'Tis plain,' he answer'd, 'not a loss And he that mounts him on the swiftest hope,

I've met since first I spun across Shall soonest run his courser to a stand;

The contribution-box.'- Alice Clark. While the poor peasant from some distant hill,

601. CONTRITION. Late Undanger'd and at ease, views all the sport, And sees content take shelter in his cottage. If. gracious God, in life's green, ardent year,

Cibber. i A thousand times Thy patient love I tried ;

Discourse may want an animated 'No!'
To brush the surface, and to make it flow;
But still remember, if you mean to please,
To press your point with modesty and ease.

Cowper.

With reckless heart, with conscience hard and sere,

Thy gifts perverted and Thy power defied; Oh grant me, now that wintry snows appear

Around my brow, and youth's bright promise hide- || Grant me with reverential awe to hear

Thy holy voice, and in Thy word confide! Blot from my book of life its early stain !

Since days misspent will never more return, My future path do Thou in mercy trace ;

So cause my soul with pious zeal to burn, That all the trust which in Thy name I place, Frail as I am, may not prove wholly vain.

Pietro Bembo.

Words learn'd by rote a parrot may rehearse,
But talking is not always to converse ;
Not more distinct from harmony divine
The constant creaking of a country sign. --Cowper.

602. CONTRITION. Power of
All powerful is the penitential sigh
Of true contrition ; like the placid wreaths
Of incense, wafted from the righteous shrine
Where Abel minister'd, to the blest seat
Of Mercy, an accepted sacrifice,
Humiliation's conscious plaint ascends. — Hayas.

But, light and airy, stood on the alert,

And shone in the best part of dialogue :
By humouring always what they might assert,

And list'ning to the topics most in vogue ;
Now grave, now gay, but never dull or pert;

And smiling but in secret-cunning rogue ! He ne'er presumed to make an error clearer : In short, there never was a better hearer. - Byron.

Nor did we fail to see within ourselves
What need there is to be reserved in speech,
And temper all our thoughts with charity.

Wordsworth,

603. CONTROVERSY : leads to conflict. SOME day the live coal behind the thought,

Whether from Baal's stone obscene,

Or from the shrine serene
Of God's pure altar brought,
Bursts up in flame; the war of tongue and pen

Learns with what deadly purpose it was fraught,

And, helpless in the fiery passion caught, Shakes all the pillar'd state with shock of men:

Some day the soft Ideal that we woo'd

Confronts us fiercely foe-beset, pursued,
And cries reproachful : "Was it, then, my praise,

And not myself was loved ? Prove now thy truth ;

I claim of thee the promise of thy youth;
Give me thy life, or cower in empty phrase,
The victim of thy genius, not its mate!'-Lowell.

605. CONVERSION : needed.

I NEED a cleansing change within :
My life must once again begin ;
New hope I need, and youth renew'd,
And more than human fortitude ;
New faith, new love, and strength to cast
Away the fetters of the past.

Hartley Coleridge.

606. CONVERT. Happiness of the

Oh how happy are they

Who the Saviour obey, And have laid up their treasure above !

Tongue can never express

The sweet comfort and peace Of a soul in its earliest love.

604. CONVERSATION.
Would you both please and be instructed too,
Watch well the rage of shining to subdue:
Hear every man upon his favourite theme,
And ever be more knowing than you seem.
The lowest genius will afford some light,
Or give a hint that had escaped your sight.

Stilling fleet. 'Tis remarkable, that they Talk most who have the least to say.-Prior.

That sweet comfort was mine,

When the favour divine I received through the blood of the Lamb ;

When my heart first believed,

What a joy I received
What a heaven in Jesus's name !

Oh, the rapturous height

Of that holy delight
Which I felt in the life-giving blood !

Of my Saviour possess'd,

I was perfectly blest, As if fill'd with the fulness of God. --C. Wesley.

Be silent always when you doubt your sense ;
And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence.

Pope.

607. CONVICTION : resisted.

In the silent midnight watches,

List, -thy bosom door !
How it knocketh, knocketh, knocketh,

Knocketh evermore !
Say not 'tis thy pulse is beating :

'Tis thy heart of sin:
'Tis thy Saviour knocks, and crieth,

Rise, and let Me in !
Death comes down, with reckless footstep,

To the hall and hut :
Think you Death will stand a-knocking

Where the door is shut ?
Jesus waiteth, waiteth, waiteth ;

But thy door is fast !
Grieved, away thy Saviour goeth :

Death breaks in at last.
Then 'tis thine to stand entreating

Christ to let thee in;
At the gate of heaven beating,

Wailing for thy sin.
Nay, alas ! thou foolish virgin,

Hast thou then forgot ?
Jesus waited long to know thee,
But He knows thee not !

A. Cleveland Coxe,

Plain husbandmen, though far below our pitch
Of fortune placed, enjoy a wealth above us :
To whom the earth, with true and bounteous justice,
Free from war's cares, returns an easy food.
They breathe the fresh and uncorrupted air,
And by clear brooks enjoy untroubled sleeps.
Their state is fearless and secure, enrich'd
With several blessings, such as greatest kings
Might in true justice envy, and themselves
Would count too happy, if they truly knew them.

May.
This our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

Shakespeare. Dear solitary groves, where peace does dwell ! Sweet harbours of pure love and innocence ! How willingly could I for ever stay Beneath the shade of your embracing greens, List’ning to the harmony of warbling birds, Tuned with the gentle murmur of the streams.

Rochester. How rich in humble poverty is he Who leads a quiet country life; Discharged of business, void of strife !--Dryden. Here too dwells simple truth ; plain innocence; Unsullied beauty; sound unbroken youth, Patient of labour, with a little pleased ; Health ever blooming ; unambitious toil ; Calm contemplation ; and poetic ease. -Thomson.

608. CONVICTION. Strife in
How shall my cold and lifeless prayer ascend,
Father of Mercies ! to Thy seat on high,
If, while my lips for Thy deliverance call,
My heart against that liberty contend ?
Do Thou, who knowest all, Thy rescue send,
Though every power of mine the help deny.
Eternal God! oh, pardon that I went
Erring so long! whence have my eyes been smit
With darkness, nor the good from evil known ?
To spare offenders, being penitent,
Is even ours; to drag them from the pit,
Themselves resisting, Lord, is Thine alone!

Ariosto. 609. CORRUPTION. Basest The summer's flower is to the summer sweet,

Though to itself it only live and die ; But if that flower with base infection meet,

The basest weed outbraves its dignity; For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

Shakespeare. 510. COUNTRY LIFE.

O knew he but his happiness, of men
The happiest he! who, far from public rage,
Deep in the vale, with a choice few retired,
Drinks the pure pleasures of the rural life.

Thomson.
O blest retirement! friend to life's decline,
Retreats from care, that never must be mine:
How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these,
A youth of labour with an age of ease;
Who quits a world where strong temptations try,
And, since 'tis hard to combat, learns to fly!

Goldsmith.

God made the country, and man made the town; What wonder then that health and virtue, gifts That can alone make sweet the bitter draught That life holds out to all, should most abound And least be threaten'd in the fields and groves?

Cowper. The statesman, lawyer, merchant, man of trade, Pants for the refuge of some rural shade, Where, all his long anxieties forgot i Amidst the charms of a sequester'd spot,

NONE can describe the sweets of country life,
But those blest men that do enjoy and taste them.

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A Dictionary of Poetical Illustrations: Specially Selected with View to the ...