Quotes from workThe 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.
“But yonder comes the powerful king of day,
Rejoicing in the east.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 81.
“Sighed and looked unutterable things.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 1188.
“Who stemm'd the torrent of a downward age.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 1515.
“But who can paint
Like Nature? Can imagination boast,
Amid its gay creation, hues like hers?”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 465.
“Come, gentle Spring! ethereal mildness, come.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 1.
“For still the world prevail'd, and its dread laugh,
Which scarce the firm philosopher can scorn.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Autumn (1730), l. 233.
“The kiss, snatch'd hasty from the sidelong maid.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Winter (1726), l. 625.
“Poor is the triumph o’er the timid hare!
Scared from the corn, and now to some lone seat
Retired”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Autumn (1730), l. 71-73.
“Amid the roses fierce Repentance rears
Her snaky crest.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 996.
“See, Winter comes to rule the varied year,
Sullen and sad.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Winter (1726), l. 1.
“A lucky chance, that oft decides the fate
Of mighty monarchs.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 1285.
“The meek-ey'd Morn appears, mother of dews.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 47.
“Falsely luxurious, will not man awake?”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Summer (1727), l. 67.
“Welcome, kindred glooms!
Congenial horrors, hail!”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Winter (1726), l. 5-6.
“Base Envy withers at another’s joy,
And hates that excellence it cannot reach.”
James Thomson (poet) The Seasons
Source: The Seasons (1726-1730), Spring (1728), l. 283.
