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
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.
heart honest warm
An honest man, close-buttoned to the chin,/ Broadcloth without, and a warm heart within.
busy dreams frames god himself works
The busy trifler dreams himself alone, / Frames many a purpose, and God works his own.
boys candid care corrected error generous learns soon trust whom
Candid and generous and just. Boys care but little whom they trust. An error soon corrected -- for who but learns in riper years. That man, when smoothest he appears, is most to be suspected?
fountain gain heroic liberal men stream
Some men make gain a fountain whence proceedsA stream of liberal and heroic deeds.
lips meet parting pass peaceful shall thee word
May I but meet thee on that peaceful shore,/ The parting word shall pass my lips no more!
base blessings born fire heroic man moved takes
The man that is not moved with what he reads,That takes not fire at their heroic deeds,Unworthy of the blessings of the brave,Is base in kind, and born to be a slave.
crew land royal shook
A land-breeze shook the shrouds, / And she was overset; / Down went the Royal George, / With all her crew complete.
business furnishes income oil wheels
A business with a income at its heels, furnishes always oil for its own wheels
bosom egg fatal laid nest pleasure
Remorse, the fatal egg by Pleasure laid / In every bosom where her nest is made.
gives scent
Nature, exerting an unwearied power,Forms, opens, and gives scent to every flower.
gives scent
Nature, exerting an unwearied power, Forms, opens, and gives scent to every flower.
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.
fleet glance
How fleet is a glance of the mind!