S+S Wallpaper : Contentment

A wallpaper of Marianne Dashwood as played by Kate Winslet in the 1995 adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. I haven't done anything Jane Austen for a while, and thought I'd remedy that.

As is usual, after finishing the image portion of this wallpaper, I set about trying to find appropriate quotes, lyrics, etc. Remembering some mention of Cowper in the novel (indeed the last part of his "The Castaway" is what Marianne forces Edward to read aloud from in the movie) so I ran a Google search on his poetry. This is what came up, and reading it with the story of Marianne in mind reveals it as particularly apt.


Contentment by William Cowper

Fierce passions discompose the mind,
As tempests vex the sea,
But calm, content and peace we find,
When, Lord, we turn to Thee.

In vain by reason and by rule
We try to bend the will;
For none but in the Saviour's school
Can learn the heavenly skill.

Since at His feet my soul has sate,
His gracious words to hear,
Contented with my present state,
I cast on Him my care.

"Art thou a sinner, soul?" He said,
"Then how canst thou complain?
How light thy troubles here, if weigh'd
With everlasting pain!

"If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured,
Compare thy griefs with mine!
Think what my love for thee endured,
And thou wilt not repine.

"'Tis I appoint thy daily lot,
And I do all things well;
Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot,
And rise with me to dwell.

"In life my grace shall strength supply,
Proportion'd to thy day;
At death thou still shalt find me nigh,
To wipe thy tears away."

Thus I, who once my wretched days
In vain repinings spent,
Taught in my Saviour's school of grace,
Have learnt to be content.