On Receiving Hayley’s Picture by William Cowper
In language warm as could be breathed or penned Thy picture speaks the original my friend, Not by those looks that indicate thy mind, They only speak thee friend of all mankind; Expression here more soothing still I see, That friend of all, a partial friend to me. ————— The End And that’s the End […]
On Receipt Of My Mother’s Picture by William Cowper
Oh that those lips had language! Life has pass’d With me but roughly since I heard thee last. Those lips are thine-thy own sweet smiles I see, The same that oft in childhood solaced me; Voice only fails, else, how distinct they say, “Grieve not, my child, chase all thy fears away!” The meek intelligence […]
On Pedigree. From Epicharmus by William Cowper
My mother! if thou love me, name no more My noble birth! Sounding at every breath My noble birth, thou kill’st me. Thither fly, As to their only refuge, all from whom Nature withholds all good besides; they boast Their noble birth, conduct us to the tombs Of their forefathers, and, from age to age […]
On Pallas Bathing, From A Hymn Of Callimachus by William Cowper
Nor oils of balmy scene produce, Nor mirror for Minerva’s use, Ye nymphs who lave her; she, array’d In genuine beauty, scorns their aid. Not even when they left the skies, To seek on Ida’s head the prize From Paris’ hand, did Juno deign, Or Pallas in the crystal plain Of Simois’ stream her locks […]
On One Ignorant And Arrogant (Translated From Owen) by William Cowper
Thou mayst of double ignorance boast, Who know’st not that thou nothing know’st. ————— 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, poetry […]
On Observing Some Names Of Little Note Recorded In The Biographia Britannica by William Cowper
Oh fond attempt to give a deathless lot, To names ignoble, born to be forgot! In vain recorded in historic page, They court the notice of a future age, Those twinkling tiny lustres of the land Drop one by one from fame’s neglecting hand, Lethean gulfs receive them as they fall, And dark oblivion soon […]
On Niobe (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Charon! receive a family on board Itself sufficient for thy crazy yawl, Apollo and Diana, for a word By me too proudly spoken, slew us all. ————— 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 […]
On Mrs. Montague’s Feather Hangings by William Cowper
The Birds put off their every hue, To dress a room for Montagu. The peacock sends his heavenly dyes, His rainbows and his starry eyes; The pheasant plumes, which round enfold His mantling neck with downy gold; The cock his arch’d tail’s azure show; And, river-blanch’d, the swan his snow. All tribes beside of Indian […]
On Miltiades by William Cowper
Miltiades! thy valor best (Although in every region known) The men of Persia can attest, Taught by thyself at Marathon. ————— 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 […]
On Late Acquired Wealth (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Poor in my youth, and in life’s later scenes Rich to no end, I curse my natal hour, Who nought enjoy’d while young, denied the means; And nought when old enjoy’d, denied the power. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — […]
On Invalids (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Far happier are the dead, methinks, than they Who look for death, and fear it every day. ————— 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 […]
On Hermocratia (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Hermocratia named — save only one — Twice fifteen births I bore, and buried none; For neither Phoebus pierced my thriving joys, Nor Dian — she my girls, or he my boys. But Dian rather, when my daughters lay In parturition, chased their pangs away. And all my sons, by Phoebus’ bounty, shared A vigorous […]
On Flaxman’s Penelope by William Cowper
The suitors sinned, but with a fair excuse, Whom all this elegance might well seduce; Nor can our censure on the husband fall, Who, for a wife so lovely, slew them all. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate […]
On Flatteries (From The Greek) by William Cowper
No mischief worthier of our fear In nature can be found Than friendship, in ostent sincere, But hollow and unsound, For lull’d into a dangerous dream We close infold a foe, Who strikes, when most secure we seem, The inevitable blow. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems […]
On Female Inconstancy (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Rich, thou hadst many lovers — poor, hast none, So surely want extinguishes the flame, And she who call’d thee once her pretty one, And her Adonis, now inquires thy name. Where wast thou born, Socicrates, and where, In what strange country can thy parents live, Who seem’st, by thy complaints, not yet aware That […]
On Envy (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Pity, says the Theban bard, From my wishes I discard; Envy, let me rather be, Rather far, a theme for thee. Pity to distress is shown. Envy to the great alone– So the Theban — But to shine Less conspicuous be mine! I prefer the golden mean, Pomp and penury between; For alarm and peril […]
On Delia (Bid Adieu, My Sad Heart) by William Cowper
Bid adieu, my sad heart, bid adieu to thy peace! Thy pleasure is past, and thy sorrows increase; See the shadows of evening how far they extend, And a long night is coming, that never may end; For the sun is now set that enlivened the scene, And an age must be past ere it […]
On An Ugly Fellow (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Beware, my friend! of crystal brook, Or fountain, lest that hideous hook, Thy nose, thou chance to see; Narcissus’ fate would then be thine, And self-detested thou wouldst pine, As self-enamour’d he. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry Monster, 2021. Poems by topic and subject. Poetry Monster — the ultimate […]
On An Old Woman (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Mycilla dyes her locks, ’tis said: But ’tis a foul aspersion; She buys them black; they therefore need No subsequent immersion. ————— 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 […]
On An Infant (From The Greek) by William Cowper
Bewail not much, my parents! me, the prey Of ruthless Ades, and sepulchred here. An infant, in my fifth scarce finish’d year, He found all sportive, innocent, and gay, Your young Callimachus; and if I knew Not many joys, my griefs were also few. ————— The End And that’s the End of the Poem © Poetry […]
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 […]