English Poetry. William Cowper. The Snail. Уильям Купер.

William Cowper (Уильям Купер)

The Snail

To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall,
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall,
As if he grew there, house and all
Together.

Within that house secure he hides,
When danger imminent betides
Of storm, or other harm besides
Of weather.

Give but his horns the slightest touch,
His self-collecting power is such,
He shrinks into his house, with much
Displeasure.

Where’er he dwells, he dwells alone,
Except himself has chattels none,
Well satisfied to be his own
Whole treasure.

Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads,
Nor partner of his banquet needs,
And if he meets one, only feeds
The faster.

Who seeks him must be worse than blind,
(He and his house are so combined,)
If, finding it, he fails to find
Its master. 

William Cowper’s other poems:

1. Catharina
2. The Christian
3. To Mrs. Newton
4. Afflictions Sanctified by the Word
5. On The High Price Of Fish

Poems of other poets with the same name (Стихотворения других поэтов с таким же названием):

Richard Lovelace (Ричард Лавлейс) The Snail (“Wise emblem of our politic world”)

1304

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