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
aching hours left memory peaceful sweet void
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed! / How sweet their memory still! / But they have left an aching void / The world can never fill.
came haste soon
And up he got, in haste to ride, / But soon came down again.
breed errors faults life
Faults in the life breed errors in the brain,And these, reciprocally, those again.
drop half pause puff sentence solemn time
The pipe, with solemn interposing puff,Makes half a sentence at a time enough;The dozing sages drop the drowsy strain,Then pause, and puff -- and speak, and pause again.
days pleasure thus
Thus always teasing others, and days teas'd, His only pleasure is to be displeas'd
charity press vehicle
Did Charity prevail, the press would proveA vehicle of virtue, truth, and love.
animated brush discourse mean modesty point press
Discourse may want an animated "No"To brush the surface, and to make it flow;But still remember, if you mean to please,To press your point with modesty and ease.
fit insatiable visitors
Visitors are insatiable devourers of time, and fit only for those who, if they did not visit, would do nothing
ask birds jacques jean shall
I shall not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau - If birds confabulate or no
calm closer heavenly leads light oh road shine walk
Oh for a closer walk with God, / A calm and heavenly frame; / A light to shine upon the road / That leads me to the Lamb!
chose nor pebble spear sword
Nor sword nor spear the stripling took, / But chose a pebble from the brook.
nature nor rural sights tone
Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,Exhilarate the spirit, and restoreThe tone of languid nature.
amongst fool fools fools-and-foolishness invites loaded looks owes says wit
A fool with judges, amongst fools a judge: / He says but little, and that little said / Owes all its weight, like loaded dice, to lead. / His wit invites you by his looks to come, / But when you knock, it never is at home.
absolutely concerns firm happiness necessary persuasion providence
A firm persuasion of the superintendence of Providence over all our concerns is absolutely necessary to our happiness.