William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works
Page 38
DELIA, TH’ UNKINDEST GIRL ON EARTH
THIS EV’NING, DELIA, YOU AND I
AN ATTEMPT AT THE MANNER OF WALLER
SONG: THE SPARKLING EYE, THE MANTLING CHEEK
UPON A VENERABLE RIVAL
WRITTEN IN A QUARREL, THE DELIVERY OF IT PREVENTED BY A RECONCILIATION
SEE WHERE THE THAMES
HOW BLEST THE YOUTH
ODE SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN ON THE MARRIAGE OF A FRIEND
ON HER ENDEAVOURING TO CONCEAL HER GRIEF AT PARTING
BID ADIEU, MY SAD HEART
WRITTEN AFTER LEAVING HER AT NEW BURNS
R. S. S.
R. S. S. WRITTEN IN A FIT OF ILLNESS
TO DELIA
HOPE, LIKE THE SHORT-LIV’D RAY THAT GLEAMS AWHILE
AN ODE ON READING MR. RICHARDSON’S HISTORY OF SIR CHARLES GRANDISON
ON THE DEATH OF SIR W. RUSSELL
ADDRESSED TO MISS MACARTNEY ON READING THE PRAYER FOR INDIFFERENCE
AN ODE SECUNDUM ARTEM
LINES WRITTEN DURING A PERIOD OF INSANITY
A SONG OF MERCY AND JUDGMENT
ODE TO PEACE
THE SHRUBBERY, WRITTEN IN A TIME OF AFFLICTION
HEU! QUAM REMOTUS
THE WINTER NOSEGAY
ON THE TRIAL OF ADMIRAL KEPPEL
AN ADDRESS TO THE MOB ON OCCASION OF THE LATE RIOT AT THE HOUSE OF SIR HUGH PALLISER
A TALE, FOUNDED ON A FACT WHICH HAPPENED IN JANUARY, 1779
THE BEE AND THE PINE-APPLE
THE PINE-APPLE AND THE BEE
ON THE PROMOTION OF EDWARD THURLOW, ESQ. TO THE LORD HIGH CHANCELLORSHIP OF ENGLAND
HUMAN FRAILTY
THE YEARLY DISTRESS
THE MODERN PATRIOT
THE NIGHTINGALE AND GLOW-WORM
A FABLE
MORAL
THE DOVES
A COMPARISON
ANOTHER ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY
ON A GOLDFINCH STARVED TO DEATH IN HIS CAGE
IN SEDITIONEM HORRENDAM CORRUPT ELIS GALLICIS (UT FERTUR) LONDINI NUPER EXORTAM
TRANSLATION
ON THE BURNING OF LORD MANSFIELD’S LIBRARY TOGETHER WITH HIS MSS. BY THE MOB, IN THE MONTH OF JUNE 1780
ON THE SAME
LOVE ABUSED
ON OBSERVING SOME NAMES OF LITTLE NOTE RECORDED IN THE BIOGRAPHIA BRITANNICA
TO THE REVEREND MR. NEWTON ON HIS RETURN FROM RAMSGATE
REPORT OF AN ADJUDGED CASE NOT TO BE FOUND IN ANY OF THE BOOKS
THE LOVE OF THE WORLD REPROVED; OR, HYPOCRISY DETECTED
BOADICEA: AN ODE
VERSES SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER SELKIRK, DURING HIS SOLITARY ABODE IN THE ISLAND OF JUAN FERNANDEZ
THE LILY AND THE ROSE
IDEM LATINE REDDITUM
VOTUM
HORACE. BOOK THE 2ND. ODE THE 10TH.
A REFLECTION ON THE FOREGOING ODE
MUTUAL FORBEARANCE NECESSARY TO THE HAPPINESS OF THE MARRIED STATE
ANTI-THELYPHTHORA
TO THE REV. MR. NEWTON
THE POET, THE OYSTER, AND SENSITIVE PLANT
A CARD
TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS
HEROISM
AN EPISTLE TO A PROTESTANT LADY IN FRANCE
TO THE REV. WILLIAM CAWTHORNE UNWIN
FRIENDSHIP
A POETICAL EPISTLE TO LADY AUSTEN
TO MISS CREUZÉ ON HER BIRTHDAY
THE FLATTING MILL
TO THE REV. MR. NEWTON, RECTOR OF ST. MARY, WOOLNOTH
TO THE REV. WILLIAM BULL
THE COLUBRIAD
TO LADY AUSTEN, WRITTEN IN RAINY WEATHER
THE DISTRESSED TRAVELLERS OR, LABOUR IN VAIN
ON THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE
IN SUBMERSIONEM NAVIGII CUI GEORGIUS REGALE NOMEN INDITUM
TO A LADY WHO WORE A LOCK OF HIS HAIR SET WITH DIAMONDS
EPITAPH ON A HARE
EPITAPHIUM ALTERUM
SONG ON PEACE
SONG ALSO WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF LADY AUSTEN
THE ROSE
THE FAITHFUL FRIEND
ODE TO APOLLO ON AN INK-GLASS ALMOST DRIED IN THE SUN
THE VALEDICTION
TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF THE HALIBUT ON WHICH I DINED THIS DAY
THE POPLAR- FIELD
IDEM LATINE REDDITUM
LINES SENT WITH TWO COCKSCOMBS TO MISS GREEN
EPITAPH ON DR. JOHNSON
ON THE AUTHOR OF LETTERS ON LITERATURE
THE POET’S NEW-YEAR’S GIFT TO MRS. THROCKMORTON
STANZAS PRINTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE YEARLY BILL OF MORTALITY OF THE TOWN OF NORTHAMPTON; DEC. 21, 1787
ON A SIMILAR OCCASION FOR THE YEAR 1788
ON A SIMILAR OCCASION FOR THE YEAR 1789
ON A SIMILAR OCCASION FOR THE YEAR 1790
ON A SIMILAR OCCASION FOR THE YEAR 1792
ON A SIMILAR OCCASION FOR THE YEAR 1793
THE NEGRO’S COMPLAINT
THE MORNING DREAM
SWEET MEAT HAS SOUR SAUCE
PITY FOR POOR AFRICANS
EPIGRAM (PRINTED IN THE NORTHAMPTON MERCURY)
SONNET ADDRESSED TO HENRY COWPER ESQ., CLERK ASSISTANT TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS
GRATITUDE ADDRESSED TO LADY HESKETH
PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED A FABLE
INSTRUCTION
ON MRS. MONTAGU’S FEATHER-HANGINGS
LINES COMPOSED FOR A MEMORIAL OF ASHLEY COWPER, ESQ. IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS DEATH, BY HIS NEPHEW WILLIAM OF WESTON
THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY NO FABLE
MOTTO ON THE KING’S CLOCK
ON THE DEATH OF MRS. THROCKMORTON’S BULFINCH
ON A MISCHIEVOUS BULL, WHICH THE OWNER OF HIM SOLD AT THE AUTHOR’S INSTANCE
INSCRIPTION FOR THE TOMB OF MR. HAMILTON
ANNUS MEMORABILIS, 1789 WRITTEN IN COMMEMORATION OF HIS MAJESTY’S HAPPY RECOVERY
ON THE QUEEN’S VISIT TO LONDON THE NIGHT OF THE 17TH MARCH, 1789
ON THE BENEFIT RECEIVED BY HIS MAJESTY FROM SEA-BATHING IN THE YEAR 1789
CATHARINA ADDRESSED TO MISS STAPLETON
THE COCK-FIGHTER’S GARLAND
TO MRS. THROCKMORTON ON HER BEAUTIFUL TRANSCRIPT OF HORACE’S ODE AD LIBRUM SUUM
ON THE RECEIPT OF MY MOTHER’S PICTURE OUT OF NORFOLK THE GIFT OF MY COUSIN ANN BODHAM
INSCRIPTION FOR A STONE ERECTED AT THE SOWING OF A GROVE OF OAKS AT CHILLINGTON, THE. SEAT OF T. GIFFORD, ESQ., 1790
ANOTHER FOR A STONE ERECTED ON A SIMILAR OCCASION AT THE SAME PLACE IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR
TO MRS. KING ON HER KIND PRESENT TO THE AUTHOR; A PATCH-WORK COUNTERPANE OF HER OWN MAKING
STANZAS ON THE LATE INDECENT LIBERTIES TAKEN WITH THE REMAINS OF THE GREAT MILTON
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE JOHN THORNTON, ESQ.
THE MORALIZER CORRECTED A TALE
THE NEEDLESS ALARM
MORAL
EPIGRAM ON THE REFUSAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD TO SUBSCRIBE TO HIS TRANSLATION OF HOMER
THE FOUR AGES (A BRIEF FRAGMENT OF AN EXTENSIVE PROJECTED POEM)
THE JUDGMENT OF THE POETS
EPITAPH ON MRS. M. HIGGINS, OF WESTON
THE RETIRED CAT
MORAL
YARDLEY OAK
TO THE NIGHTINGALE WHICH THE AUTHOR HEARD SING ON NEW-YEAR’S DAY, 1792
EPITAPH ON A FREE BUT TAME REDBREAST A FAVOURITE OF MISS SALLY HURDIS
SONNET TO WILLIAM WILBERFORCE ESQ.
TO WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ. BY AN OLD SCHOOL FELLOW OF HIS AT WESTMINSTER
TO DR. AUSTIN, OF CECIL STREET, LONDON
TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ.
CATHARINA THE SECOND PART ON HER MARRIAGE TO GEORGE COURTENAY, ESQ.
LINES ADDRESSED TO DR. DARWIN AUTHOR OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN
EPITAPH ON FOP A DOG BELONGING TO LADY THROCKMORTON
TO GEORGE ROMNEY, ESQ. ON HIS PICTURE OF ME IN CRAYONS, DRAWN AT EARTHAM
AN EPITAPH
EPITAPH ON MR. CHESTER, OF CHICHELEY
ON A PLANT OF VIRGIN’S-BOWER DESIGNED TO COVER A GARD
EN-SEAT
TO MY COUSIN ANNE BODHAM ON RECEIVING FROM HER A NETWORK PURSE MADE BY HERSELF
INSCRIPTION FOR AN HERMITAGE IN THE AUTHOR’S GARDEN
INSCRIPTION FOR A MOSS-HOUSE IN THE SHRUBBERY AT WESTON
SONNET TO MRS. UNWIN
TO JOHN JOHNSON ON HIS PRESENTING ME WITH AN ANTIQUE BUST OF HOMER
TO A YOUNG FRIEND ON HIS ARRIVING AT CAMBRIDGE WET, WHEN NO RAIN HAD FALLEN THERE
A TALE
TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ. IN REPLY TO HIS SOLICITATION TO WRITE WITH HIM IN A LITERARY WORK
ON A SPANIEL CALLED BEAU KILLING A YOUNG BIRD
BEAU’S REPLY
INSCRIPTION FOR A BUST OF HOMER
ANSWER TO STANZAS ADDRESSED TO LADY HESKETH BY MISS CATHARINE FANSHAWE
TO MARY
LINES WRITTEN ON A WINDOW-SHUTTER AT WESTON
MONTES GLACIALES IN OCEANO GERMANICO NATANTES
TRANSLATION ON THE ICE ISLANDS SEEN FLOATING IN THE GERMAN OCEAN
THE CASTAWAY
ON THE DEATH OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, A PHYSICIAN
ON THE DEATH OF THE BISHOP OF ELY. ANNO AET. 17.
NATURE UNIMPAIRED BY TIME
ON THE PLATONIC ‘IDEAL’ AS IT WAS UNDERSTOOD BY ARISTOTLE.
TO MY FATHER
TO GIOVANNI SALZILLI, A ROMAN POET, IN HIS ILLNESS.
TO GIOVANNI BATTISTA MANSO, MARQUIS OF VILLA.
ON THE DEATH OF DAMON.
TO MR. JOHN ROUSE, LIBRARIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
VERSES TO THE MEMORY OF DR. LLOYD.
VERSES TO THE MEMORY OF DR. LLOYD (II).
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTION TO WILLIAM NORTHCOT.
ON THE SHORTNESS OF HUMAN LIFE.
VERSES WRITTEN AT BATH ON FINDING THE HEEL OF A SHOE
[Written 1748. Published by Hayley, 1803, and by Johnson, 1815.]
Fortune! I thank thee: gentle Goddess! thanks!
Not that my muse, tho’ bashful, shall deny
She would have thank’d thee rather, hadst thou cast
A treasure in her way; for neither meed
Of early breakfast, to dispel the fumes
And bowel-raking pains of emptiness,
Nor noon-tide feast, nor ev’ning’s cool repast,
Hopes she from this — presumptuous, — tho’, perhaps,
The cobbler, leather-carving artist, might!
Nathless she thanks thee, and accepts thy boon, 10
Whatever, not as erst the fabled cock,
Vain-glorious fool, unknowing what he found,
Spum’d the rich gem thou gav’st him. Wherefore ah!
Why not on me that favour, (worthier sure!)
Conferr’dst thou, Goddess? Thou art blind, thou say’st:
Enough! — Thy blindness shall excuse the deed.
Nor does my muse no benefit exhale
From this thy scant indulgence, — even here
Hints, worthy sage philosophy, are found;
Illustrious hints to moralize my song! 20
This pond’rous Heel of perforated hide
Compact, with pegs indented, many a row,
Haply (for such its massy form bespeaks)
The weighty tread of some rude peasant clown
Upbore: on this supported oft he stretch’d,
With uncouth strides, along the furrow’d glebe,
Flatt’ning the stubborn clod, till cruel time,
(What will not cruel time?) on a wry step,
Sever’d the strict cohesion; when, alas!
He, who could erst with even equal pace 30
Pursue his destin’d way with symmetry
And some proportion form’d, now, on one side,
Curtail’d and maim’d, the sport of vagrant boys,
Cursing his frail supporter, treach’rous prop,
With toilsome steps, and difficult, moves on!
Thus fares it oft with other than the feet
Of humble villager: — the statesman thus,
Up the steep road, where proud ambition leads,
Aspiring first uninterrupted winds
His prosp’rous way; nor fears miscarriage foul, 40
While policy prevails, and friends prove true:
But that support soon failing, by him left
On whom he most depended, basely left,
Betray’d, deserted, from his airy height
Head-long he falls; and thro’ the rest of life
Drags the dull load of disappointment on.
PSALM CXXXVII
[Written (?). Published by Croft, 1825.]
To Babylon’s proud waters brought,
In bondage where we lay,
With tears on Sion’s Hill we thought,
And sigh’d our hours away;
Neglected on the willows hung
Our useless harps, while ev’ry tongue
Bewail’d the fatal day. 7
Then did the base insulting foe
Some joyous notes demand,
Such as in Sion used to flow
From Judah’s happy band —
Alas! what joyous notes have we,
Our country spoil’d, no longer free,
And in a foreign land? 14
Oh Solyma! if e’er thy praise
Be silent in my song,
Rude and unpleasing be the lays,
And artless be my tongue!
Thy name my fancy still employs;
To thee, great fountain of my joys,
My sweetest airs belong. 21
Remember, Lord! that hostile sound,
When Edom’s children cried,
Raz’d be her turrets to the ground,
And humbled be her pride!
Remember, Lord! and let the foe
The terrors of thy vengeance know —
The vengeance they defied. 28
Thou too, great Babylon, shalt fall
A victim to our God;
Thy monstrous crimes already call
For Heav’n’s chastising rod.
Happy who shall thy little ones
Relentless dash against the stones,
And spread their limbs abroad. 35
SONG: NO MORE SHALL HAPLESS CELIA’S EARS
[Written (?). Published by Croft, 1825.]
No more shall hapless Celia’s ears
Be flatter’d with the cries
Of lovers drown’d in floods of tears,
Or murder’d by her eyes;
No serenades to break her rest,
Nor songs her slumbers to molest, 6
With my fa, la, la.
The fragrant flowers that once would bloom
And flourish in her hair,
Since she no longer breathes perfume
Their odours to repair,
Must fade, alas! and wither now,
As plac’d on any common brow, 13
With my fa, la, la.
Her lip, so winning and so meek,
No longer has its charms;
As well she might by whistling seek
To lure us to her arms;
Affected once, ’tis real now,
As her forsaken gums may show, 20
With my fa, la, la.
The down that on her chin so smooth
So lovely once appear’d,
That, too, has left her with her youth,
Or sprouts into a beard;
As fields, so green when newly sown,
With stubble stiff are overgrown, 27
With my fa, la, la.
Then, Celia, leave your apish tricks,
And change your girlish airs,
For ombre, snuff, and politics,
Those joys that suit your years;
No patches can lost youth recal,
Nor whitewash prop a tumbling wall, 34
With my fa, la, la.
A SONG: ON THE GREEN MARGIN OF THE BROOK
[Written (?). Published by Croft, 1825.]
On the green margin of the brook
Despairing Phyllida reclin’d,
Declar’d the anguish of her mind. 4
Am I less lovely then? (she cries,
And in the waves her form survey’d;)
Oh yes, I see my languid eyes,
My faded cheek, my colour fled:
These eyes no more like light’ning pierc’d,
These cheeks grew pale when Damon first
His Phyllida betray’d. 11
The rose he in his bosom wore,
How oft upon my breast was seen I
And when I kiss’d the drooping flow’r,
Behold, he cried, it blooms again!
The wreaths that bound my braided hair,
Himself next day was proud to wear
At church or on the green. 18
While thus sad Phyllida lamented,
Chance brought unlucky Thyrsis on;
Unwillingly the nymph consented,
But Damon first the cheat begun.
She wip’d the fall’n tears away,
Then sigh’d and blush’d, as who should say
Ah! Thyrsis, I am won. 25
AN EPISTLE TO ROBERT LLOYD, ESQ.
[Written 1754. Published by Hayley, 1803, and by Johnson, 1815.]
’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 thread-bare sentiments together,
To show my genius or my wit,
When God and you know I have neither;
Or such, as might be better shown
By letting poetry alone. 10
’Tis not with either of these views,
That I presume t’ address the Muse:
But to divert a fierce banditti
(Sworn foes to ev’ry thing that’s witty),
That, with a black infernal train,
Make cruel inroads in my brain,
And daily threaten to drive thence
My little garrison of sense:
The fierce banditti, which I mean,
Are gloomy thoughts led on by Spleen. 20
Then there’s another reason yet,
Which is, that I may fairly quit
The debt, which justly became due
The moment when I heard from you:
And you might grumble, crony mine,
If paid in any other coin;
Since twenty sheets of lead, God knows,
(I would say twenty sheets of prose,)
Can ne’er be deem’d worth half so much
As one of gold, and yours was such. 30