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
horseback ride
So you must ride / On horseback after we.
enthusiast half mankind till wild
No wild enthusiast ever yet could rest, till half of mankind were, like himself, possest
doth next ride
Now let us sing, Long live the king, / And Gilpin, long live he; / And when he next doth ride abroad, / May I be there to see!
blood church dear dying god lose precious shall sin thy
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its powerTill all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
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.
herd left stricken
I was a stricken deer, that left the herd / Long since.
attentive dwells heads knowledge minds thoughts wisdom
Knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men; wisdom in minds attentive to their own.
english-poet humble knowledge knows learned proud
Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
english-poet humble knowledge knows proud wisdom
Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd so much; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
captain citizen credit famous john london
John Gilpin was a citizen / Of credit and renown, / A train-band captain eke was he / Of famous London town.