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William Cowper
The Task
Book iv. The Winter Evening (line 86)
And Katerfelto, with his hair on end
At his own wonders, wondering for his bread.
’T is pleasant, through the loopholes of retreat,
To peep at such a world, - to see the stir
Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd.
William Cowper (1731-1800) was an English poet. Physically and emotionally unfit during his professional life, he was admitted to the bar but never practiced. After a battle with insanity, Cowper retired to the country, taking refuge with the family of Mrs. Mary Unwin, whose life-long devotion to him he celebrates in 'To Mary.' Most of his country life was spent at Olney, where he met John Newton, the ardent evangelical preacher. His famous long poem, 'The Task', was written in 1785, and describes the sights and sounds of country life, predating 19th century romanticism.