Olney Hymn 24: Prayer For Children by William Cowper
Gracious Lord, our children see, By Thy mercy we are free; But shall these, alas! remain Subjects still of Satan’s reign? Israel’s young ones, when of old Pharaoh threaten’d to withhold, Then Thy messenger said, “No; Let the children also go!” When the angel of the Lord, Drawing forth his dreadful sword, Slew with an […]
Olney Hymn 23: Pleading For And With Youth by William Cowper
Sin has undone our wretched race; But Jesus has restored, And brought the sinner face to face With his forgiving Lord. This we repeat from year to year And press upon our youth; Lord, give them an attentive ear, Lord, save them by Thy truth! Blessings upon the rising race! Make this a happy hour, […]
Inscription For The Tomb Of Mr. Hamilton by William Cowper
Pause here, and think; a monitory rhyme Demands one moment of thy fleeting time. Consult life’s silent clock, thy bounding vein; Seems it to say –“Health here has long to reign?” Hast thou the vigour of thy youth? an eye That beams delight? a heart untaught to sigh? Yet fear! Youth ofttimes healthful and at […]
Inscription For A Stone Erected At The Sowing Of A Grove Of Oaks At Chillington, Anno 1791 by William Cowper
Reader! behold a monument That asks no sigh or tear, Though it perpetuate the event Of a great burial here. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual library of poetic […]
Inscription For A Stone Erected At The Sowing Of A Grove Of Oaks At Chillington, Anno 1790 by William Cowper
Other stones the era tell, When some feeble mortal fell; I stand here to date the birth Of these hardy sons of earth. Which shall longest brave the sky, Storm and frost — these oaks or I? Pass an age or two away, I must moulder and decay; But the years that crumble me Shall […]
Inscription For A Moss-House In The Shrubbery At Weston by William Cowper
Here, free from riot’s hated noise, Be mine, ye calmer, purer joys, A book or friend bestows; Far from the storms that shake the great, Contentment’s gale shall fan my seat, And sweeten my repose. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster […]
Inscription For A Hermitage In The Author’s Garden by William Cowper
This cabin, Mary, in my sight appears, Built as it has been in our waning years, A rest afforded to our weary feet, Preliminary to–the last retreat. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry […]
In Seditionem Horrendam, Corruptelis Gallicus Ut Fertue, Londini Nuper Exortam by William Cowper
Perfida, crudelis, victa et lymphata furore, Non armis, laurum Gallia fraude petit. Venalem pretio plebem conducit, et urit Undique privatas patriciasque domos. Nequicquam conata suâ, fœdissima sperat Posse tamen nostrâ nos superare manu. Gallia, vana struis! Precibus nunc utere! Vinces, Nam mites timidis supplicibusque sumus. TRANSLATION. False, cruel, disappointed, stung to the heart, France quits […]
In A Letter To C. P. Esq. In Imitation Of Shakspeare by William Cowper
Trust me the meed of praise, dealt thriftily From the nice scale of judgement, honours more Than does the lavish and o’erbearing tide Of profuse courtesy. Not all the gems Of India’s richest soil at random spread O’er the gay vesture of some glittering dame, Give such alluring vantage to the person, As the scant […]
In A Letter To C. P. Esq. Ill With The Rheumatism by William Cowper
Grant me the Muse, ye gods! whose humble flight Seeks not the mountain-top’s pernicious height: Who can the tall Parnassian cliff forsake, To visit oft the still Lethean lake; Now her slow pinions brush the silent shore, Now gently skim the unwrinkled waters o’er, There dips her downy plumes, thence upward flies, And sheds soft […]
Hymn For The Use Of The Sunday School At Olney by William Cowper
Hear, Lord, the song of praise and prayer, In heaven thy dwelling-place, From infants, made the public care, And taught to seek thy face! Thanks for thy word and for thy day; And grant us, we implore, Never to waste in sinful play Thy holy Sabbaths more. Thanks that we hear,–but oh! impart To each […]
Gratitude, Addressed To Lady Hesketh by William Cowper
This cap, that so stately apepars, With ribbon-bound tassel on high, Which seems by the crest that it rears Ambitious of brushing the sky; This cap to my Cousin I owe, She gave it, and gave me beside, Wreathed into an elegant bow, The ribbon with which it was tied. This wheel-footed studying chair, Contrived […]
From The Greek Of Julianus by William Cowper
A Spartan, his companion slain, Alone from battle fled; His mother, kindling with disdain That she had borne him, struck him dead; For courage, and not birth alone, In Sparta, testifies a son! ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the […]
From Menander by William Cowper
Fond youth! who dream’st that hoarded gold Is needful not alone to pay For all thy various items sold, To serve the wants of every day; Bread, vinegar, and oil, and meat, For savory viands season’d high; But somewhat more important yet– I tell thee what it cannot buy. No treasure hadst thou more amass’d […]
Epitaph On Mrs. M. Higgins, Of Weston by William Cowper
Laurels may flourish round the conqueror’s tomb, But happiest they who win the world to come: Believers have a silent field to fight, And their exploits are veiled from human sight. They in some nook, where little known they dwell, Kneel, pray in faith, and rout the hosts of hell; Eternal triumphs crown their toils […]
Epitaph On Johnson by William Cowper
Here Johnson lies, a sage by all allowed, Whom to have bred, may well make England proud; Whose prose was eloquence, by wisdom taught, The graceful vehicle of virtuous thought; Whose verse may claim, grave, masculine and strong, Superior praise to the mere poet’s song; Who many a noble gift from Heaven possessed, And faith […]
Epitaph On Fop, A Dog Belonging To Lady Throckmorton by William Cowper
Though once a puppy, and though Fop by name, Here moulders one whose bones some honour claim; No sycophant, although of spaniel race, And though no hound, a martyr to the chase. Ye squirrels, rabbits, leverets, rejoice! Your haunts no longer echo to his voice; This record of his fate exulting view, He died worn […]
Epitaph On A Free But Tame Redbreast, A Favourite Of Miss Sally Hurdis by William Cowper
These are not dew-drops, these are tears, And tears by Sally shed For absent Robin, who she fears With too much cause, is dead. One morn he came not to her hand As he was wont to come, And, on her finger perched, to stand Picking his breakfast-crumb. Alarmed she called him, and perplext She […]
Epitaph On Mr. Chester Of Chicheley by William Cowper
Tears flow, and cease not, where the good man lies, Till all who know him follow to the skies. Tears therefore fall where Chester’s ashes sleep; Him wife, friends, brothers, children, servants, weep; And justly — few shall ever him transcend As husband, parent, brother, master, friend. ————— The End And that’s the End of […]
Epigram : To Christina, Queen Of Sweden, With Cromwell’s Picture (Translation) by William Cowper
Christina, maiden of heroic mien! Star of the North! of northern stars the queen! Behold, what wrinkles I have earn’d, and how The iron cask still chafes my vet’ran brow, While following fate’s dark footsteps, I fulfill The dictates of a hardy people’s will. But soften’d, in thy sight, my looks appear, Not to all […]
Epigram : The Cottager And His Landlord. A Fable (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
A Peasant to his lord yearly court, Presenting pippins of so rich a sort That he, displeased to have a part alone, Removed the tree, that all might be his own. The tree, too old to travel, though before So fruitful, withered, and would yield no more. The squire, perceiving all his labour void, Cursed […]
Epigram : On The Inventor Of Gunpowder (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
Praise in old time the sage Prometheus won, Who stole ethereal radiance from the sun; But greater he, whose bold invention strove To emulate the fiery bolts of Jove. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world […]
Epigram : To Leonora Singing At Rome 2 (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
Naples, too credulous, ah! boast no more The sweet-voiced Siren buried on thy shore, That, when Parthenope deceas’d, she gave Her sacred dust to a Chalcidic grave, For still she lives, but has exchanged the hoarse Pausilipo for Tiber’s placid course, Where, idol of all Rome, she now in chains, Of magic song both Gods […]
Elegy III. Anno Aet. 17. On The Death Of The Bishop Of Winchester (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
Silent I sat, dejected, and alone, Making in thought the public woes my own, When, first, arose the image in my breast Of England’s sufferings by that scourge, the pest. How death, his fun’ral torch and scythe in hand, Ent’ring the lordliest mansions of the land, Has laid the gem-illumin’d palace low, And level’d tribes […]
Elegy II. On The Death Of The University Beadle At Cambridge (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
Thee, whose refulgent staff and summons clear, Minerva’s flock longtime was wont t’obey, Although thyself an herald, famous here, The last of heralds, Death, has snatch’d away. He calls on all alike, nor even deigns To spare the office that himself sustains. Thy locks were whiter than the plumes display’d By Leda’s paramour in ancient […]
On The Death Of The Vice-Chancellor, A Physician (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
Learn ye nations of the earth The condition of your birth, Now be taught your feeble state, Know, that all must yield to Fate! If the mournful Rover, Death, Say but once-resign your breath- Vainly of escape you dream, You must pass the Stygian stream. Could the stoutest overcome Death’s assault, and baffle Doom, Hercules […]
Catharina : The Second Part. On Her Marriage To George Courtenay, Esq. by William Cowper
Believe it or not, as you choose, The doctrine is certainly true, That the future is known to the Muse, And poets are oracles too. I did but express a desire, To see Catharina at home, At the side of my friend George’s fire, And lo — she is actually come. Such prophecy some may […]
By Philemon by William Cowper
Oft we embrace our ills by discontent, And give them bulk beyond what nature meant. A parent, brother, friend deceased, to cry– “He’s dead indeed, but he was born to die”– Such temperate grief is suited to the size And burden of the loss; is just and wise. But to exclaim, “Ah! wherefore was I […]
By Heraclides by William Cowper
In Cnidus born, the consort I became Of Euphron. Aretimias was my name. His bed I shared, nor proved a barren bride, But bore two children at a birth, and died. One child I leave to solace and uphold Euphron hereafter, when infirm and old And one, for his remembrance’ sake, I bear To Pluto’s […]
By Callimachus by William Cowper
At morn we placed on his funeral bier Young Melanippus; and, at eventide, Unable to sustain a loss so dear, By her own hand his blooming sister died. Thus Aristippus mourn’d his noble race, Annihilated by a double blow, Nor son could hope nor daughter more to embrace And all Cyrene sadden’d at his woe. […]
On the Burning of Lord Mansfield’s Library by William Cowper
On the Burning of Lord Mansfield’s Library, Together with his MSS. by the Mob, in the Month of June 1780. So then – the Vandals of our isle, Sworn foes to sense and law, Have burnt to dust a nobler pile Than ever Roman saw! And Murray sighs o’er Pope and Swift, And many a […]
Apology to Delia by William Cowper
This evening, Delia, you and I, Have managed most delightfully, For with a frown we parted; Having contrived some trifle that We both may be much troubled at, And sadly disconcerted. Yet well as each performed their part, We might perceive it was but art; And that we both intended To sacrifice a little ease; […]
Answer To Stanzas Addressed To Lady Hesketh By Miss Catharine Fanshawe, In Returning A Poem by William Cowper
To be remembered thus is fame, And in the first degree; And did the few like her the same, The press might sleep for me. So Homer, in the memory stored Of many a Grecian belle, Was once preserved — a richer hoard, But never lodged so well. ————— The End And that’s the End […]
An Epitaph by William Cowper
Here lies one who never drew Blood himself, yet many slew; Gave the gun its aim, and figure Made in field, yet ne’er pulled trigger. Armed men have gladly made Him their guide, and him obeyed; At his signified desire, Would advance, present, and fire. Stout he was, and large of limb, Scores have fled […]
An Epitaph (From The Greek) by William Cowper
My name — my country — what are they to thee! What, whether base or proud my pedigree? Perhaps I far surpass’d all other men– Perhaps I fell below them all — what then? Suffice it, stranger! that thou seest a tomb– Thou know’st its use — it hides — no matter whom. ————— The […]
An Epitaph 4 (From The Greek) by William Cowper
At threescore winters’ end I died A cheerless being sole and sad; The nuptial knot I never tied, And wish my father never had. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the […]
An Epitaph 3 (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Painter, this likeness is too strong, And we shall mourn the dead too long. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of world poetry. Poetry Monster — the multilingual library of poetic works. Here you’ll find original poems, […]
An Epitaph 2 (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Take to thy bosom, gentle earth, a swain With much hard labor in thy service worn! He set the vines that clothe yon ample plain, And he these olives that the vale adorn. He fill’d with grain the glebe; the rills he led Through this green herbage, and those fruitful bowers; Thou, therefore, earth! lie […]
An Epistle To Robert Lloyd, Esq. by William Cowper
‘Tis not that I design to rob Thee of thy birthright, gentle Bob,– For thou art born sole heir and single Of dear Mat Prior’s easy jingle; Nor that I mean, while thus I knit My threadbare sentiments together, To show my genius or my wit, When God and you know I have neither, Or […]
An Epistle To Joseph Hill, Esq. by William Cowper
Dear Joseph,– five and twenty years ago– Alas! how time escapes — ’tis even so!– With frequent intercourse and always sweet And always friendly we were wont to cheat A tedious hour, — and now we never meet, As some grave gentleman in Terence says, (‘Twas therefore much the same in ancient days,) Good lack, […]