William Cowper
William Cowper
William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. He was a nephew of the poet Judith Madan...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth26 November 1731
summer water may
But conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs, Not as if raised by mere mechanic powers.
dust contests contention
Great contest follows, and much learned dust Involves the combatants; each claiming truth, And truth disclaiming both.
giving contentment rich
Give what thou canst, without Thee we are poor; And with Thee rich, take what Thou wilt away.
pride men devil
God made bees, and bees made honey, God made man, and man made money, Pride made the devil, and the devil made sin; So God made a cole-pit to put the devil in.
compassion tempest lost
Me howling blasts drive devious, tempest-tossed, / Sails ripped, seams opening wide, and compass lost.
pain men self
I pity bashful men, who feel the pain Of fancied scorn and undeserved disdain, And bear the marks upon a blushing face, OF needless shame, and self-impos'd disgrace.
brave bravery toil
Toil for the brave! The brave that are no more.
country mind may
England with all thy faults, I love thee still-- My country! and, while yet a nook is left Where English minds and manners may be found, Shall be constrained to love thee.
men errors toss
Man on the dubious waves of error toss'd.
men evil constraints
All constraint, / Except what wisdom lays on evil men, / Is evil.
money lying names
Stamps God's own name upon a lie just made, To turn a penny in the way of trade.
light arrows mind
How fleet is a glance of the mind! Compared with the speed of its flight, The tempest itself lags behind, And the swift-winged arrows of light.
headstone mercy shows
Mercy to him that shows it, is the rule.
missing lessons tales
Misses! the tale that I relate This lesson seems to carry-- Choose not alone a proper mate, But proper time to marry.