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 […]
Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 3. by William Cowper
SCENE I.– Adam and Eve. Oh, my beloved companion! Oh thou of my existence, The very heart and soul! Hast thou, with such excess of tender haste, With ceaseless pilgrimage, To find again thy Adam, Thus solitary wandered? Behold him! Speak! what are thy gentle orders? Why dost thou pause? what ask of God? what […]
Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 2. by William Cowper
SCENE I. — CHORUS OF ANGELS Singing. Now let us garlands weave Of all the fairest flowers, Now at this early dawn, For new-made man, and his companion dear; Let all with festive joy, And with melodious song, Of the great Architect Applaud this noblest work, And speak the joyous sound, Man is the wonder […]
Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 1. by William Cowper
CHORUS OF ANGELS, Singing the Glory of God. To Heaven’s bright lyre let Iris be the bow, Adapt the spheres for chords, for notes the stars; Let new-born gales discriminate the bars, Nor let old Time to measure times be slow. Hence to new Music of the eternal Lyre Add richer harmony and praise to […]
A Tale. June 1793 by William Cowper
In Scotland’s realm, where trees are few Nor even shrubs abound; But where, however bleak the view Some better things are found; For husband there and wife may boast Their union undefiled, And false ones are as rare almost As hedge-rows in the wild; In Scotland’s realm forlorn and bare The history chanced of late,– […]
A Tale, Founded On A Fact, Which Happened In January, 1779 by William Cowper
Where Humber pours his rich commercial stream, There dwelt a wretch, who breathed but to blaspheme. In subterraneous caves his life he led, Black as the mine, in which he wrought for bread. When on a day, emerging from the deep, A Sabbath-day, (such Sabbaths thousands keep!) The wages of his weekly toil he bore […]
A Song : The Sparkling Eye by William Cowper
The sparkling eye, the mantling cheek, The polished front, the snowy neck, How seldom we behold in one! Glossy locks, and brow serene, Venus’ smiles, Diana’s mien, All meet in you, and you alone. Beauty, like other powers, maintains Her empire, and by union reigns; Each single feature faintly warms: But where at once we […]
A Song : On The Green Margin by William Cowper
On the green margin of the brook, Despairing Phyllida reclined, Whilst every sigh, and every look, Declared the anguish of her mind. Am I less lovely then? (she cries, And in the waves her form surveyed); Oh yes, I see my languid eyes, My faded cheek, my colour fled: These eyes no more like lightning […]
A Riddle by William Cowper
I am just two and two, I am warm, I am cold, And the parent of numbers that cannot be told. I am lawful, unlawful — a duty, a fault, I am often sold dear, good for nothing when bought; An extraordinary boon, and a matter of course, And yielded with pleasure when taken by […]
A Poetical Epistle To Lady Austen by William Cowper
Dear Anna, — Between friend and friend, Prose answers every common end; Serves, in a plain and homely way, To express the occurrence of the day; Our health, the weather, and the news, What walks we take, what books we choose, And all the floating thoughts we find Upon the surface of the mind. But […]
A Manual, More Ancient Than The Art Of Printing, And Not To Be Found In Any Catalogue by William Cowper
There is a book, which we may call (Its excellence is such) Alone a library, though small; The ladies thumb it much. Words none, things numerous it contains: And thing with words compared, Who needs be told, that has his brains, Which merits most regard? Ofttimes its leaves of scarlet hue A golden edging boast; […]
A Figurative Description Of The Procedure Of Divine Love by William Cowper
‘Twas my purpose, on a day, To embark, and sail away. As I climbed the vessel’s side, Love was sporting in the tide; “Come,” he said, “ascend-make haste, Launch into the boundless waste.” Many mariners were there, Having each his separate care; They that rowed us held their eyes Fixed upon the starry skies; Others […]
A Fable by William Cowper
A raven, while with glossy breast Her new-laid eggs she fondly press’d, And, on her wicker-work high mounted, Her chickens prematurely counted (A fault philosophers might blame, If quite exempted from the same), Enjoy’d at ease the genial day; ‘Twas April, as the bumpkins say, The legislature call’d it May. But suddenly a wind, as […]
A Comparison by William Cowper
The lapse of time and rivers is the same, Both speed their journey with a restless stream; The silent pace, with which they steal away, No wealth can bribe, no prayers persuade to stay; Alike irrevocable both when past, And a wide ocean swallows both at last. Though each resemble each in every part, A […]
A Comparison. Addressed To A Young Lady by William Cowper
Sweet stream that winds through yonder glade, Apt emblem of a virtuous maid Silent and chaste she steals along, Far from the world’s gay busy throng: With gentle yet prevailing force, Intent upon her destined course; Graceful and useful all she does, Blessing and blest where’er she goes; Pure-bosom’d as that watery glass, And Heaven […]
A Child Of God Longing To See Him Beloved by William Cowper
There’s not an echo round me, But I am glad should learn, How pure a fire has found me, The love with which I burn. For none attends with pleasure To what I would reveal; They slight me out of measure, And laugh at all I feel. The rocks receive less proudly The story of […]