But this I mark,-that symptoms none of woe Since, on maturer thought, the cause is clear 3 THANKS FOR A GIFT OF PHEASANTS. IN Copeman's ear this truth let Echo tell: AN EPITAPH ON A POINTER BELONGING TO SIR JOHN THROCKMORTON. HERE lies one who never drew Made in field, yet ne'er pull'd trigger. Arm❜d men have gladly made Would advance, present, and fire. And, your wonder vain to shorten, ON RECEIVING HAYLEY'S PICTURE. (January, 1793.) In language warm as could be breath'd or penn'd Not by those looks that indicate thy mind, EPITAPH ON MR. CHESTER, OF CHICHELEY. (April, 1793.) TEARS flow, and cease not, where the good man lies, Tears therefore fall where Chester's ashes sleep; TO MY COUSIN ANNE BODHAM, ON RECEIVING FROM HER A NETWORK PURSE MADE BY HERSELF. (May, 1793.) My gentle Anne, whom heretofore, Than plaything for a nurse, I danced and fondled on my knee, Gold pays the worth of all things here; TO MRS. UNWIN. (May, 1798.) MARY! I want a lyre with other strings, And undebased by praise of meaner things, I may record thy worth with honour due, There all thy deeds, my faithful Mary, shine, TO JOHN JOHNSON,* ESQ., ON HIS PRESENTING ME WITH AN ANTIQUE BUST OF HOMER. (May, 1793.) KINSMAN beloved, and as a son, by me! The sculptured form of my old favourite bard, Joy too and grief. Much joy that there should be, Proves dross when balanced in the Christian scale. INSCRIBED ON THE BUST OF HOMER, PRESENTED TO COWPER BY MR. JOHN JOHNSON, AND NOW Είκονα τις ταύτην ;—κλυτον άνερος όνομ' όλωλεν. THE sculptor P-nameless, though once dear to fame; The grandson of Cowper's uncle. He cheered the last years of the poet. TO A YOUNG FRIEND, ON HIS ARRIVING AT CAMBRIDGE WET WHEN NO RAIN HAD FALLEN THERE. INSCRIPTION FOR A HERMITAGE IN THE (May, 1793.) THIS cabin, Mary, in my sight appears, INSCRIPTION FOR A MOSS-HOUSE IN THE HERE, free from riot's hated noise, A friend or book bestows; Far from the storms that shake the great, INSCRIPTION FOR A GARDEN SHED, BUILT IN A FAR MORE EXPENSIVE WAY THAN WAS DESIGNED. BEWARE of building! I intended Rough logs and thatch, and thus it ended. EPIGRAM ON THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE.* INSTEAD of a pound or two, spending a mint, ON ABBOTT'S PORTRAIT OF HIM; ADDRESSED TO HAYLEY. (July 15, 1792.) ABBOTT is painting me so true, THE FOUR AGES. (A BRIEF FRAGMENT OF AN EXTENSIVE PROJECTED POEM.) 'I COULD be well content, allow'd the use Of past experience, and the wisdom glean'd From worn-out follies, now acknowledged such, To recommence life's trial, in the hope Of fewer errors, on a second proof!" Thus while grey evening lull'd the wind, and call'd Fresh odours from the shrubbery at my side, Taking my lonely winding walk, I mused, And held accustom'd conference with my heart; When from within it thus a voice replied: "Couldst thou in truth? and art thou taught at length This wisdom, and but this, from all the past? Is not the pardon of thy long arrear, Time wasted, violated laws, abuse * Cowper thus explains the inscription in a letter to Hayley, July 24, 1793.-" I said to my Sam: Sam, build me a shed in the garden, with anything that you can find, and make it rude and rough, like one of those at Eartham.' 'Yes, sir,' says Sam; and straightway laying his own noddle, and the carpenter's noddle together, has built me a thing fit for Stow Gardens." |