English Cosmos by Dr Mukesh Pareek

The Pulley BY  GEORGE HERBERT When God at first made man, Having a glass of blessings standing by, “Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can. Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie, Contract into a span.” So strength first made a way; Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure. When almost all was out, God made a stay, Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure, Rest in the bottom lay. “For if I should,” said he, “Bestow this jewel also on my creature, He would adore my gifts instead of me, And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature; So both should losers be. “Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness; Let him be rich and weary, that at least, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to my breast.”

Ode to Simplicity Collins, William (1721 - 1759) Original Text:  William Collins,  Odes on several descriptive and allegoric subjects  (London: A. Millar ..., 1747 [i.e. 1746]). pam Fisher Library (Rare Books). 1      O thou, by Nature taught 2      To breathe her genuine thought 3 In numbers warmly pure, and sweetly strong; 4      Who first on mountains wild, 5      In Fancy, loveliest child, 6 Thy babe, or Pleasure's, nurs'd the pow'rs of song! 7      Thou, who with hermit heart, 8      Disdain'st the wealth of art, 9 And gauds, and pageant weeds, and trailing pall, 10      But com'st a decent maid, 11      In Attic robe array'd, 12 O chaste, unboastful nymph, to thee I call! 13      By all the honey'd store 14      On Hybla...

. Hobbies Everybody has hobbies, and everybody loves talking about them. Hobbies could be passions too, you know. Some simple questions to ask include: What are your hobbies? Why do you like your hobbies so much? How often do you do these hobbies? How long have you been doing these hobbies, and how did you get started? What hobbies did you used to have, but now do not? Is it important to have hobbies? Why/why not? 2. Time As people get older, their perceived value of time increases, so it’s a practical topic that everyone has something to say about. You could ask questions like: How much free time do you usually have? How important is time to you? If you had more free time, what would you do? “Time is money.” Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you feel about time that is wasted? 3. Sleep As people get older, they start to appreciate a good night’s sleep more and more. This topic is often a favorite for all. Some example questions are: How much sleep do you usually get? Why do so...

'No Man is an Island' No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Olde English Version No man is an Iland, intire of itselfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Manor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. MEDITATION XVII Devotions upon Emergent Occasions

Ode to Evening BY  WILLIAM COLLINS If aught of oaten stop, or past'ral song, May hope, chaste Eve, to soothe thy modest ear, Like thy own solemn springs, Thy springs and dying gales, O nymph reserved, while now the bright-haired sun Sits in yon western tent, whose cloudy skirts, With brede ethereal wove, O'erhang his wavy bed; Now air is hushed, save where the weak-ey'd bat With short shrill shriek flits by on leathern wing, Or where the beetle winds His small but sullen horn As oft he rises 'midst the twilight path Against the pilgrim, borne in heedless hum: Now teach me, maid composed, To breathe some softened strain, Whose numbers stealing through thy dark'ning vale May not unseemly with its stillness suit, As musing slow, I hail Thy genial loved return. For when thy folding star arising shows His paly circlet, at his warning lamp The fragrant Hours, and elves Who slept in flowers the day, And many a nymph who wreathes her brows with sedge And sheds the fresh...

Mr. Gradgrind is a man of "facts and calculations." He identifies a student, called Girl number twenty, who replies that her name is Sissy Jupe. Gradgrind corrects her that her name is Cecilia regardless of what her father calls her. Jupe's father is involved in a horse-riding circus and this is not respectable‹in Gradgrind's opinion. He advises Cecilia to refer to her father as a "farrier" (the person who shoes a horse) or perhaps, a "veterinary surgeon." Sissy Jupe is a slow learner, among the group of stragglers who admit that they would dare to carpet a room with representations of flowers because she is "fond" of them. Sissy is taught that she must not "fancy" and that she is "to be in all things regulated and governed by fact." Mr. Josiah Bounderby  is Mr. Gradgrind's closest friend, and just like Gradgrind he is a man "perfectly devoid of sentiment." Bounderby is very wealthy from his trade as a ba...

A VALEDICTION OF MY NAME, IN THE WINDOW. by John Donne I.         M Y  name engraved herein Doth contribute my firmness to this glass,     Which ever since that charm hath been     As hard, as that which graved it was ; Thine eye will give it price enough, to mock         The diamonds of either rock. II.         'Tis much that glass should be As all-confessing, and through-shine as I ;     'Tis more that it shows thee to thee,     And clear reflects thee to thine eye. But all such rules love's magic can undo ;         Here you see me, and I am you. III.         As no one point, nor dash, Which are but accessories to this name,     The showers and tempests can outwash     So shall all times find me the same ; You this entireness better may fulfill,         Who have the pattern with you still. IV.   ...