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
concern customs great motley says sees
He sees that this great roundabout The world, with all its motley rout, Church, army, physic, law, Its customs and its businesses, Is no concern at all of his, And says -- what says he? -- Caw.
nature nor rural sights tone
Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,Exhilarate the spirit, and restoreThe tone of languid nature.
fear hope
He has no hope that never had a fear.
knows lawyer shifting side
Then, shifting his side (as a lawyer knows how).
cause fight freedom mankind noblest undertake
They that fight for freedom undertake The noblest cause mankind can have at stake.
although full loss trouble
For loss of time, / Although it grieved him sore, / Yet loss of pence, full well he knew, / Would trouble him much more.
cause fight freedom mankind noblest
They that fight for freedom undertakeThe noblest cause mankind can have at stake.
chase hunt start syllable time
Philologists who chase / A panting syllable through time and space, / Start it at home, and hunt it in the dark, / To Gaul, to Greece, and into Noah's ark.
anticipate blood brighter claim divinely earn ensure equal feed few immortal liberty loved martyrs noblest remember shed spent struggle sweets time truth walk win
A patriot's blood, Well spent in such a strife, may earn indeed, And for a time ensure to his loved land, The sweets of liberty and equal laws; But martyrs struggle for a brighter prize, And win it with more pain. Their blood is shed In confirmation of the noblest claim -- Our claim to feed upon immortal truth, To walk with God, to be divinely free, To soar, and to anticipate the skies. Yet few remember them.
alike deserted judgment sin
My sin and judgment are alike peculiar. I am a castaway, deserted and condemned.
known lost seek truth whatsoever
For 'tis a truth well known to most, That whatsoever thing is lost We seek it, ere it come to light, In every cranny but the right
beast gone laid
But the sea-fowl has gone to her nest, / The beast is laid down in his lair.
backward beast received thy till
My God, till I received thy stroke, / How like a beast was I! / So unaccustomed to the yoke, / So backward to comply.
charity gives mere peace zeal
All zeal for a reform, that gives offenceTo peace and charity, is mere pretence.