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
genius manner substitute whatever wit
Manner is all in all whatever is writ, the substitute for genius sense and wit
enter fine foot list manners polished sets wanting
I would not enter on my list of friends / (Though graced with polished manners and fine sense, / Yet wanting sensibility) the man / Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm.
moral manners courtesy
A moral, sensible, and well-bred manWill not affront me, and no other can.
herd left stricken
I was a stricken deer, that left the herd / Long since.
finger great
While fancy, like the finger of a clock,Runs the great circuit, and is still at home.
hidden oil wasted
Our wasted oil unprofitably burns,Like hidden lamps in old sepulchral urns.
bosom egg fatal laid nest pleasure
Remorse, the fatal egg by Pleasure laid / In every bosom where her nest is made.
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.
aware deceive happy human laborious loan studious waste
Me, therefore, studious of laborious ease,Not slothful, happy to deceive the time,Not waste it, and aware that human lifeIs but a loan to be repaid with use.
bleeding british counsel indignant roman warrior
When the British warrior queen, / Bleeding from the Roman rods, / Sought, with an indignant mien, / Counsel of her country's gods.
fountain gain heroic liberal men stream
Some men make gain a fountain whence proceedsA stream of liberal and heroic deeds.