Epigram : To Leonora Singing At Rome (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
Another Leonora once inspir’d Tasso, with fatal love to frenzy fir’d, But how much happier, liv’d he now, were he, Pierced with whatever pangs for love of Thee! Since could he hear that heavenly voice of thine, With Adriana’s lute of sound divine, Fiercer than Pentheus’ tho’ his eye might roll, Or idiot apathy benumb […]
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 VII. Anno Aetates Undevigesimo (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
As yet a stranger to the gentle fires That Amathusia’s smiling Queen inspires, Not seldom I derided Cupid’s darts, And scorn’d his claim to rule all human hearts. Go, child, I said, transfix the tim’rous dove, An easy conquest suits an infant Love; Enslave the sparrow, for such prize shall be Sufficient triumph to a […]
Elegy VI. To Charles Diodati, When He Was Visiting In The Country (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
With no rich viands overcharg’d, I send Health, which perchance you want, my pamper’d friend; But wherefore should thy Muse tempt mine away From what she loves, from darkness into day? Art thou desirous to be told how well I love thee, and in verse? Verse cannot tell. For verse has bounds, and must in […]
Elegy V. Anno Aet. 20. On The Approach Of Spring (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
Time, never wand’ring from his annual round, Bids Zephyr breathe the Spring, and thaw the ground; Bleak Winter flies, new verdure clothes the plain, And earth assumes her transient youth again. Dream I, or also to the Spring belong Increase of Genius, and new pow’rs of song? Spring gives them, and, how strange soere it […]
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 […]
Elegy I. To Charles Deodati (Translated From Milton) by William Cowper
At length, my friend, the far-sent letters come, Charged with thy kindness, to their destin’d home, They come, at length, from Deva’s Western side, Where prone she seeks the salt Vergivian tide. Trust me, my joy is great that thou shouldst be, Though born of foreign race, yet born for me, And that my sprightly […]
Denner’s Old Woman by William Cowper
In this mimic form of a matron in years, How plainly the pencil of Denner appears! The matron herself, in whose old age we see Not a trace of decline, what a wonder is she! No dimness of eye, and no cheek hanging low, No wrinkle, or deep-furrow’d frown on the brow! Her forehead indeed […]
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 Moschus by William Cowper
I slept when Venus enter’d: to my bed A Cupid in her beauteous hand she led, A bashful seeming boy, and thus she said: “Shepherd, receive my little one! I bring An untaught love, whom thou must teach to sing.” She said, and left him. I, suspecting nought, Many a sweet strain my subtle pupil […]
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 […]
Boadicea. An Ode by William Cowper
When the British warrior queen, Bleeding from the Roman rods, Sought, with an indignant mien, Counsel of her country’s gods, Sage beneath a spreading oak Sat the Druid, hoary chief; Every burning word he spoke Full of rage, and full of grief. Princess! if our aged eyes Weep upon thy matchless wrongs, ‘Tis because resentment […]
Aspirations Of The Soul After God by William Cowper
My Spouse! in whose presence I live, Sole object of all my desires, Who know’st what a flame I conceive, And canst easily double its fires! How pleasant is all that I meet! From fear of adversity free, I find even sorrow made sweet; Because ’tis assigned me by thee. Transported I see thee display […]
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; […]
Anti-Thelyphthora. A Tale In Verse by William Cowper
Airy del Castro was as bold a knight As ever earned a lady’s love in fight. Many he sought, but one above the rest His tender heart victoriously impressed: In fairy land was born the matchless dame, The land of dreams, Hypothesis her name. There fancy nursed her in ideal bowers, And laid her soft […]
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 […]
Annus Memorabilis : Written in Commemoration of His Majesty’s Happy Recovery by William Cowper
I ransack’d for a theme of song, Much ancient chronicle, and long; I read of bright embattled fields, Of trophied helmets, spears, and shields, Of chiefs, whose single arm could boast Prowess to dissipate a host; Through tomes of fable and of dream I sought an eligible theme, But none I found, or found them […]
An Ode, On Reading Mr. Richardson’s History Of Sir Charles Grandison by William Cowper
Say, ye apostate and profane, Wretches, who blush not to disdain Allegiance to your God,– Did e’er your idly wasted love Of virtue for her sake remove And lift you from the crowd? Would you the race of glory run, Know, the devout, and they alone, Are equal to the task: The labours of the […]
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, […]
An Epigram From Homer by William Cowper
Pay me my price, potters! and I will sing. Attend, O Pallas! and with lifted arm Protect their oven; let the cups and all The sacred vessels black well, and, baked With good success, yield them both fair renown And profit, whether in the market sold Or streets, and let no strife ensue between us. […]
An Enigma by William Cowper
A needle, small as small can be, In bulk and use surpasses me, Nor is my purchase dear; For little, and almost for nought As many of my kind are bought As days are in the year. Yet though but little use we boast, And are procured at little cost, The labour is not light; […]
An Attempt At The Manner Of Waller by William Cowper
Did not thy reason, and thy sense, With most persuasive eloquence, Convince me that obedience due None may so justly claim as you, By right of beauty you would be Mistress o’er my heart and me. Then fear not I should e’er rebel, My gentle love! I might as well A forward peevishness put on, […]
An Apology For Not Showing Her What I Had Wrote by William Cowper
Did not my Muse (what can she less?) Perceive her own unworthiness, Could she by some well-chosen theme, But hope to merit your esteem, She would not thus conceal her lays, Ambitious to deserve your praise. But should my Delia take offence, And frown on her impertinence, In silence, sorrowing and forlorn, Would the despairing […]
Addressed To Miss Macartney, Afterwards Mrs. Greville, On Reading The Prayer For Indifference by William Cowper
And dwells there in a female heart, By bounteous heaven design’d The choicest raptures to impact, To feel the most refined; Dwells there a wish in such a breast Its nature to forego, To smother in ignoble rest At once both bliss and woe? Far be the thought, and far the strain, Which breathes the […]
Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 5. by William Cowper
SCENE I. — The Flesh and Adam. The Flesh. If in a bosom formed in lonely woods, An amorous lure, the engine of deceit, May wake a blazing spark, And raise an inextinguishable fire; This day to me shall shine a day of triumph, When in desire’s fierce flames I shall behold that heart, Which […]
Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 4. by William Cowper
SCENE I. — Volan, CHORUS of Fiery, Airy, Earthly, and Aquatic Spirits. Volan. Forth from a thousand clouds of flame and smoke, From the deep bosom of the spacious earth, I to these scenes a messenger return. Now to the fatal sound Of these entwined pipes, By hissing snakes united, And all attuned to the […]