[Madan MS. Cowper’s “Maria” is usually Mrs. Throckmorton.]
THE SCHOLAR AT HIS WITS’ END
A TALE
IN days when the learned, as old stories tell,
Were famous for raising his Highness of Hell,
A Scholar, with pot-hooks and hangers all bloody,
Succeeded, and conjur’d him into his study.
Now, though to excite him cost labour and pain,
It costs twice as much to lay him again,
And ne’er can be done, unless you can give
His De’ilship a task that he cannot atchieve.
So the Scholar enjoin’d him whatever he thought
Would puzzle him most, but he puzzled him not.
There was nothing so difficult, nothing so nice
But he did it, and show’d it him done in a trice.
At length said the Scholar (and look’d less aghast
For he surely believed he had hit it at last)
Go — fetch me a thing hard enough to defie
All force of impression, whatever we try.
Then he brought him a flint, but that would not do —
Then a bridling old maiden, but she yielded too —
Then he stood at a plunge, and feared he must go
Back again to his dreary apartment below,
But suddenly starting, as one just awake
From a nap that he had not intended to take —
“Oh how” — he exclaim’d— “could I be such a dunce!
“I have it — I’ll furnish you with it at once.”
So he went, and return’d twice as soon as before
With the heart of a plump Overseer of the Poor.
“Alas!” quoth the Student, with sorrowful face,
“I give up the point, ’tis a desperate case —
“I never shall lay thee, and woe to the art
“That taught me to raise thee, say I, from my heart,
“’Tis the thing in the world that I wish’d thee to miss,
“For thy own is not half so obdurate as This.”
PSALM 114th
“by Willm Cowper Esq.”
1
WHEN Israel by Jehovah call’d
From Ægypt’s hostile plain,
Pour’d forth in numbers as the Sand
And sought the adjacent main:
2
Then God descended from on high
To lead the favour’d Race
To rule o’er Jacob, & his Name
In Judah’s Tribe to place.
3
The Sea at their approach allarm’d
In wild amazement fled
And Jordans flood was driven back
Within it’s fountain head.
4
The Mountains from their basis shook
Confess’d the Parent God!
With sudden throws like Rams they skipp’d
And broken, fell abroad.
5
The little Hills by the same power
Were from their Center torn
Like Lambs resistless they gave way
In Tumult wild, upborn.
6
Ye Waves what strange amazement, say,
Seiz’d on you that you fled?
Thou Jordan too! on Israels march,
Why driven to thy Head?
7
Ye Mountains whence this sudden fright
That shook you from your base?
And whence, ye little Hills, your flight
From Israels chosen Race?
8
Tremble thou Earth! It’s God who comes,
Whose Presence fills thy Coast.
Tremble thou Earth! Jehovah leads,
And guards the mighty Host!
9
That God who by his awfull Word,
Commands the Stream to flow
From flinty Rocks; & pouring thence,
To form the Lake below.
A HYMN FOR A CHILD THAT HAS UNGODLY PARENTS
How happy are those Little ones
Whose parents fear the Lord,
And shew their daughters and their sons
The treasures of his Word!
Instructed, not at school alone,
But at their home beside,
With quicker pace they travel on,
And never want a guide.
I know that scripture tells me true,
There is a place of woe
(My parents! I am pain’d for you)
To which the careless go.
O Lord, who causest Babes to see,
And lead’st the ancient blind,
Their case, who being gave to me,
Sits heavy on my mind.
Must we and shall we, when the date
Of this short life is o’er
Be fixt in such a diff’rent state,
And meet in love no more?
Forbid it, Lord! and change a pray’r
In trembling hope preferr’d,
To praise and thanks for saving care
And supplication heard.
[Bodleian MS., fol. 51, from Cowper’s Entry Book of his Poems.]
The Poems
The Westminster School, Westminster, London — Cowper was enrolled here in April 1742 and studied under headmaster John Nicoll. At the time the Westminster School was popular amongst families belonging to England’s Whig political party. Here, Cowper read through the Iliad and the Odyssey, igniting his lifelong love for Homer’s epics. He also grew skilled at the interpretation and translation of Latin, which would stay with him for the rest of his life.
List of Poems in Chronological Order
TABLE TALK.
THE PROGRESS OF ERROR.
TRUTH.
EXPOSTULATION.
HOPE.
CHARITY.
CONVERSATION.
RETIREMENT.
THE TASK.
BOOK I. THE SOFA.
BOOK II. THE TIMEPIECE.
BOOK III. THE GARDEN.
BOOK IV. THE WINTER EVENING.
BOOK V. THE WINTER MORNING WALK.
BOOK VI. THE WINTER WALK AT NOON.
AN EPISTLE TO JOSEPH HILL, ESQ.
TIROCINIUM: A REVIEW FOR SCHOOLS
THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN, SHOWING HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HE INTENDED, AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIN
VERSES WRITTEN AT BATH ON FINDING THE HEEL OF A SHOE
PSALM CXXXVII
SONG: NO MORE SHALL HAPLESS CELIA’S EARS
A SONG: ON THE GREEN MARGIN OF THE BROOK
AN EPISTLE TO ROBERT LLOYD, ESQ.
MORTALS! AROUND YOUR DESTIN’D HEADS
OF HIMSELF
THE SYMPTOMS OF LOVE
AN APOLOGY FOR NOT SHOWING HER WHAT I HAD WROTE
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 R
EMOTUS
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 GARDEN-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 UNDE
RSTOOD 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.
I. WALKING WITH GOD. — GENESIS V.24.
II. JEHOVAH-JIREH. THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. — GENESIS XXII.14.
III. JEHOVAH-ROPHI. I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE. — EXODUS XV.26.
IV. JEHOVAH-NISSI. THE LORD MY BANNER. — EXODUS XVII.15.
V. JEHOVAH-SHALOM. THE LORD SEND PEACE. — JUDGES VI.24.
VI. WISDOM. — PROVERBS VIII.22-31.
VII. VANITY OF THE WORLD.
VIII. O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE. — ISAIAH XII.1.
IX. THE CONTRITE HEART. — ISAIAH LVII.15.
X. THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH. — ISAIAH IX.15-20.
XI. JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. — JEREMIAH XXIII.6.
XII. EPHRAIM REPENTING. — JEREMIAH XXXI.18-20.
XIII. THE COVENANT. — EZEKIEL XXXVI.25-28.
XIV. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH. — EZEKIEL XLVIII.35.
XV. PRAISE FOR THE FOUNTAIN OPENED. — ZECHARIAH XIII.1.
XVI. THE SOWER. — MATTHEW XIII.3.
XVII. THE HOUSE OF PRAYER. — MARK XI.17.
XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME? — JOHN XXI.16.
XIX. CONTENTMENT. — PHILIPPIANS IV.11.
XX. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL. — HEBREWS IV.2.
XXI. SARDIS. — REVELATION III.1-6.
XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING ON THE YOUNG.
XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH.
XXIV. PRAYER FOR CHILDREN.
XXV. JEHOVAH JESUS.
XXVI. ON OPENING A PLACE FOR SOCIAL PRAYER.
XXVII. WELCOME TO THE TABLE.
XXVIII. JESUS HASTING TO SUFFER.
XXIX. EXHORTATION TO PRAYER.
XXX. THE LIGHT AND GLORY OF THE WORD.
XXXI. ON THE DEATH OF A MINISTER.
XXXII. THE SHINING LIGHT.
XXXIII. SEEKING THE BELOVED.
XXXIV. THE WAITING SOUL.
XXXV. WELCOME CROSS.
XXXVI. AFFLICTIONS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD.
XXXVII. TEMPTATION.
XXXVIII. LOOKING UPWARDS IN A STORM.
William Cowper- Collected Poetical Works Page 82
