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
rome names england
Greece, sound, thy Homer's, Rome thy Virgil's name, But England's Milton equals both in fame.
despair purpose purses
Most satirists are indeed a public scourge; Their mildest physic is a farrier's purge; Their acrid temper turns, as soon as stirr'd, The milk of their good purpose all to curd. Their zeal begotten, as their works rehearse, By lean despair upon an empty purse.
judgment should mischief
It is a general rule of Judgment, that a mischief should rather be admitted than an inconvenience.
eagles flew invincible
Religion Caesar never knew Thy posterity shall sway, Where his eagles never flew, None as invincible as they.
sweet journey humanity
I am out of humanity's reach.I must finish my journey alone,Never hear the sweet music of speech;I start at the sound of my own.
ivy rotten stones
As creeping ivy clings to wood or stone, And hides the ruin that it feeds upon, So sophistry, cleaves close to, and protects Sin's rotten trunk, concealing its defects.
sight spirit breathe
The Spirit breathes upon the Word and brings the truth to sight.
judging grace frowning
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
war successful solitude
Oh to have a lodge in some vast wilderness. Where rumors of oppression and deceit, of unsuccessful and successful wars may never reach me anymore.
garden greenhouses gardening
Who loves a garden loves a greenhouse too.
happiness ease pursuit
A life of ease is a difficult pursuit.
inspirational selfish war
Glory, built on selfish principles, is shame and guilt.
prayer believe petitions
How happy it is to believe, with a steadfast assurance, that our petitions are heard even while we are making them; and how delightful to meet with a proof of it in the effectual and actual grant of them.
slavery sugar pity
I pity them greatly, but I must be mum, for how could we do without sugar and rum?