Quotes from work
The Seasons

The Seasons is a series of four poems written by the Scottish author James Thomson. The first part, Winter, was published in 1726, and the completed poem cycle appeared in 1730.The poem was extremely influential, and stimulated works by John Christopher Smith, Joseph Haydn, Thomas Gainsborough and J. M. W. Turner among many others.


James Thomson (poet) photo
James Thomson (poet) photo

“But yonder comes the powerful king of day,
Rejoicing in the east.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 81.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“Sighed and looked unutterable things.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 1188.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“Who stemm'd the torrent of a downward age.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 1515.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“But who can paint
Like Nature? Can imagination boast,
Amid its gay creation, hues like hers?”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 465.

James Thomson (poet) photo
James Thomson (poet) photo
James Thomson (poet) photo

“Come, gentle Spring! ethereal mildness, come.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 1.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“For still the world prevail'd, and its dread laugh,
Which scarce the firm philosopher can scorn.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Autumn (1730), l. 233.

James Thomson (poet) photo
James Thomson (poet) photo

“The kiss, snatch'd hasty from the sidelong maid.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Winter (1726), l. 625.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“Poor is the triumph o’er the timid hare!
Scared from the corn, and now to some lone seat
Retired”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Autumn (1730), l. 71-73.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“Amid the roses fierce Repentance rears
Her snaky crest.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 996.

James Thomson (poet) photo
James Thomson (poet) photo

“See, Winter comes to rule the varied year,
Sullen and sad.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Winter (1726), l. 1.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“A lucky chance, that oft decides the fate
Of mighty monarchs.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 1285.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“The meek-ey'd Morn appears, mother of dews.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 47.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“Falsely luxurious, will not man awake?”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 67.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“Welcome, kindred glooms!
Congenial horrors, hail!”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Winter (1726), l. 5-6.

James Thomson (poet) photo

“Base Envy withers at another’s joy,
And hates that excellence it cannot reach.”

Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 283.

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