On A True Friend (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Hast thou a friend? thou hast indeed A rich and large supply. Treasure to serve your every need, Well managed, till you die. ————— 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 […]
On A Thief (From The Greek) by William Cowper
When Aulus, the nocturnal thief, made prize Of Hermes, swift-wing’d envoy of the skies, Hermes, Arcadia’s king, the thief divine, Who when an infant stole Apollo’s kine, And whom, as arbiter and overseer Of our gymnastic sports, we planted here; “Hermes,” he cried, “you meet no new disaster Ofttimes the pupil goes beyond the master.” […]
On A Spaniel, Called Beau, Killing A Young Bird by William Cowper
A spaniel, Beau, that fares like you, Well fed, and at his ease, Should wiser be than to pursue Each trifle that he sees. But you have killed a tiny bird, Which flew not till to-day, Against my orders, whom you heard Forbidding you the prey. Nor did you kill that you might eat, And […]
On A Similar Character (From The Greek) by William Cowper
You give your cheks a rosy stain, With washes dye your hair; But paint and washes both are vain To give a youthful air. Those wrinkles mock your daily toil, No labor will efface ’em, You wear a mask of smoothest oil, Yet still with ease we trace ’em. An art so fruitless then forsake, […]
On A Plant Of Virgin’s-Bower, Designed To Cover A Garden-seat by William Cowper
Thrive, gentle plant! and weave a bower For Mary and for me, And deck with many a splendid flower Thy foliage large and free. Thou camest from Eartham, and wilt shade, (If truly I divine,) Some future day the illustrious head Of him who made thee mine. Should Daphne show a jealous frown, And Envy […]
On A Mistake In His Translation Of Homer by William Cowper
Cowper had sinned with some excuse, If, bound in rhyming tethers, He had committed this abuse Of changing ewes for wethers; But, male for female is a trope, Or rather bold misnomer, That would have startled even Pope, When he translated Homer. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. […]
On A Miser (From The Greek) by William Cowper
They call thee rich — I deem thee poor, Since, if thou darest not use thy store, But savest only for thine heirs, The treasure is not thine, but theirs. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate repository of […]
On A Miser, 3 (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Art thou some individual of a kind Long-lived by nature as the rook or hind? Heap treasure, then, for if thy need be such, Thou hast excuse, and scarce canst heap too much. But man thou seem’st, clear therefore from thy breast This lust of treasure — folly at thy best! For why shouldst thou […]
On A Miser, 2 (From The Greek) by William Cowper
A miser traversing his house, Espied, unusual there, a mouse, And thus his uninvited guest Briskly inquisitive address’d: “Tell me, my dear, to what cause is’t I owe this unexpected visit?” The mouse her host obliquely eyed, And, smiling, pleasantly replied: “Fear not, good fellow, for your hoard! I come to lodge, and not to […]
On A Mischievous Bull, Which The Owner Him Sold At The Author’s Instance by William Cowper
Go–thou art all unfit to share The pleasures of this place With such as its old tenants are, Creatures of gentler race. The squirrel here his hoard provides, Aware of wintry storms, And woodpeckers explore the sides Of rugged oaks for worms. The sheep here smooths the knotted thorn With frictions of her fleece; And […]
On A Good Man (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Traveller, regret not me; for thou shalt find Just cause of sorrow none in my decease, Who, dying, children’s children left behind, And with one wife lived many a year in peace; Three virtuous youths espoused my daughters three, And oft their infants in my bosom lay, Nor saw I one of all derived from […]
On A Goldfinch, Starved To Death In His Cage by William Cowper
Time was when I was free as air, The thistle’s downy seed my fare, My drink the morning dew; I perch’d at will on every spray, My form genteel, my plumage gay, My strains for ever new. But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain, And form genteel were all in vain, And of a transient date; For, […]
On A Fowler, By Isidorus by William Cowper
With seeds and birdlime, from the desert air, Eumelus gather’d free, though scanty fare. No lordly patron’s hand he deign’d to kiss Nor luxury knew, save liberty, nor bliss. Thrice thirty years he lived, and to his heirs His seeds bequeath’d, his birdlime, and his snares. ————— The End And that’s the End of the […]
On A Battered Beauty (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Hair, wax, rouge, honey, teeth you buy, A multifarious store! A mask at once would all supply Nor would it cost you more. ————— 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 […]
On A Bath, By Plato by William Cowper
Did Cytherea to the skies From this pellucid lymph arise? Or was it Cytherea’s touch, When bathing here, that made it such? ————— 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 […]
Olney Hymn 9: The Contrite Heart by William Cowper
The Lord will happiness divine On contrite hearts bestow; Then tell me, gracious God, is mine A contrite heart or no? I hear, but seem to hear in vain, Insensible as steel; If aught is felt, ’tis only pain, To find I cannot feel. I sometimes think myself inclined To love Thee if I could; […]
Olney Hymn 7: Vanity of the World by William Cowper
God gives his mercies to be spent; Your hoard will do your soul no good. Gold is a blessing only lent, Repaid by giving others food. The world’s esteem is but a bribe, To buy their peace you sell your own; The slave of a vainglorious tribe, Who hate you while they make you known. […]
Olney Hymn 68: Light Shining Out Of Darkness by William Cowper
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs, And works his sov’reign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread Are big with […]
Olney Hymn 67: Longing To Be With Christ by William Cowper
To Jesus, the crown of my hope, My soul is in haste to be gone; O bear me, ye cherubim, up, And waft me away to His throne! My Saviour, whom absent I love, Whom, not having seen I adore; Whose name is exalted above All glory, dominion, and power; Dissolve thou these bonds that […]
Olney Hymn 66: I Will Praise The Lord At All Times by William Cowper
Winter has a joy for me, While the Saviour’s charms I read, Lowly, meek, from blemish free, In the snowdrop’s pensive head. Spring returns, and brings along Life-invigorating suns: Hark! the turtle’s plaintive song Seems to speak His dying groans! Summer has a thousand charms, All expressive of His worth; ‘Tis His sun that lights […]
Olney Hymn 64: Praise For Faith by William Cowper
Of all the gifts Thine hand bestows, Thou Giver of all good! Not heaven itself a richer knows Than my Redeemer’s blood. Faith too, the blood-receiving grace, From the same hand we gain; Else, sweetly as it suits our case, That gift had been in vain. Till Thou Thy teaching power apply, Our hearts refuse […]
Olney Hymn 63: Not Of Works by William Cowper
Grace, triumphant in the throne, Scorns a rival, reigns alone; Come and bow beneath her sway; Cast your idol works away! Works of man, when made his plea, Never shall accepted be; Fruits of pride (vainglorious worm!) Are the best he can perform. Self, the god his soul adores, Influences all his powers; Jesus is […]
Olney Hymn 61: The Narrow Way by William Cowper
What thousands never knew the road! What thousands hate it when ’tis known! None but the chosen tribes of God Will seek or choose it for their own. A thousand ways in ruin end, One only leads to joys on high; By that my willing steps ascend, Pleased with a journey to the sky. No […]
Olney Hymn 60: Abuse Of The Gospel by William Cowper
Too many, Lord, abuse Thy grace In this licentious day, And while they boast they see Thy face, They turn their own away. Thy book displays a gracious light That can the blind restore; But these are dazzled by the sight, And blinded still the more. The pardon such presume upon, They do not beg […]
Olney Hymn 59: A Living And A Dead Faith by William Cowper
The Lord receives his highest praise From humble minds and hearts sincere; While all the loud professor says Offends the righteous Judge’s ear. To walk as children of the day, To mark the precepts’ holy light, To wage the warfare, watch, and pray, Show who are pleasing in His sight. Not words alone it cost […]
Olney Hymn 57: The New Convert by William Cowper
The new-born child of gospel grace, Like some fair tree when summer’s nigh, Beneath Emmanuel’s shining face Lifts up his blooming branch on high. No fears he feels, he sees no foes, No conflict yet his faith employs, Nor has he learnt to whom he owes The strength and peace his soul enjoys. But sin […]
Olney Hymn 56: Hatred Of Sin by William Cowper
Holy Lord God! I love Thy truth, Nor dare Thy least commandment slight; Yet pierced by sin the serpent’s tooth, I mourn the anguish of the bite. But though the poison lurks within, Hope bids me still with patience wait; Till death shall set me free from sin, Free from the only thing I hate. […]
Olney Hymn 55: The Heart Healed And Changed By Mercy by William Cowper
Sin enslaved me many years, And led me bound and blind; Till at length a thousand fears Came swarming o’er my mind. “Where,” said I, in deep distress, “Will these sinful pleasures end? How shall I secure my peace And make the Lord my friend?” Friends and ministers said much The gospel to enforce; But […]
Olney Hymn 54: Love Constraining To Obedience by William Cowper
No strength of nature can suffice To serve the Lord aright: And what she has she misapplies, For want of clearer light. How long beneath the law I lay In bondage and distress; I toll’d the precept to obey, But toil’d without success. Then, to abstain from outward sin Was more than I could do; […]
Olney Hymn 53: My Soul Thirsteth For God by William Cowper
I thirst, but not as once I did, The vain delights of earth to share; Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid That I should seek my pleasures there. It was the sight of Thy dear cross First wean’d my soul from earthly things; And taught me to esteem as dross The mirth of fools and pomp […]
Olney Hymn 52: For The Poor by William Cowper
When Hagar found the bottle spent And wept o’er Ishmael, A message from the Lord was sent To guide her to a well. Should not Elijah’s cake and cruse Convince us at this day, A gracious God will not refuse Provisions by the way? His saints and servants shall be fed, The promise is secure; […]
Olney Hymn 50: The Christian by William Cowper
Honor and happiness unite To make the Christian’s name a praise; How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of His days! A kingly character He bears, No change His priestly office knows; Unfading is the crown He wears, His joys can never reach a close. Adorn’d with glory from on […]
Olney Hymn 5: Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Send Peace by William Cowper
Jesus! whose blood so freely stream’d To satisfy the law’s demand; By Thee from guilt and wrath redeem’d, Before the Father’s face I stand. To reconcile offending man, Make Justice drop her angry rod; What creature could have form’d the plan, Or who fulfil it but a God? No drop remains of all the curse, […]
Olney Hymn 48: Joy And Peace In Believing by William Cowper
Sometimes a light surprises The Christian while he sings; It is the Lord who rises With healing on His wings; When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again A season of clear shining, To cheer it after rain. In holy contemplation We sweetly then pursue The theme of God’s salvation, And find it ever […]
Olney Hymn 47: The Hidden Life by William Cowper
To tell the Saviour all my wants, How pleasing is the task! Nor less to praise Him when He grants Beyond what I can ask. My laboring spirit vainly seeks To tell but half the joy, With how much tenderness He speaks, And helps me to reply. Nor were it wise, nor should I choose, […]
Olney Hymn 45: The Happy Change by William Cowper
How bless’d Thy creature is, O God, When with a single eye, He views the lustre of Thy Word, The dayspring from on high! Through all the storms that veil the skies And frown on earthly things, The Sun of Righteousness he eyes, With healing on His wings. Struck by that light, the human heart, […]
Olney Hymn 43: Prayer For Patience by William Cowper
Lord, who hast suffer’d all for me, My peace and pardon to procure, The lighter cross I bear for Thee, Help me with patience to endure. The storm of loud repining hush; I would in humble silence mourn; Why should the unburnt, though burning bush, Be angry as the crackling thorn? Man should not faint […]
Olney Hymn 40: Peace After A Storm by William Cowper
When darkness long has veil’d my mind, And smiling day once more appears, Then, my Redeemer, then I find The folly of my doubts and fears. Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be Thus prone to act so base a part, Or harbour one hard thought of Thee! Oh! […]
Olney Hymn 4: Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord My Banner by William Cowper
By whom was David taught To aim the deadly blow, When he Goliath fought, And laid the Gittite low? Nor sword nor spear the stripling took, But chose a pebble from the brook. ‘Twas Israel’s God and King Who sent him to the fight; Who gave him strength to sling, And skill to aim aright. […]
Olney Hymn 39: The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death by William Cowper
My soul is sad, and much dismay’d; See, Lord, what legions of my foes, With fierce Apollyon at their head, My heavenly pilgrimage oppose. See, from the ever-burning lake, How like a smoky cloud they rise! With horrid blasts my soul they shake, With storms of blasphemies and lies. Their fiery arrows reach the mark, […]