The Poetical Works of William Cowper

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853. Excerpt: ... NO SORROW PECULIAR TO THE SUFFERER. The lover, in melodious verses, His singular distress rehearses. Still closing with a rueful cry, "Was ever such a wretch as I!" Yes! thousands have endured before All thy distress; some, haply, more. Unnumber'd Corydons complain, And Strephons, of the like disdain; And if thy Chloe be of steel, Too deaf to hear, too hard to feel; Not her alone that censure fits, Nor thou alone hast lost thy wits. THE SNAIL. To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall, The Snail sticks close, nor fears to fall, As if he grew there, house and all Together. Within that house secure he hides, When danger imminent betides Of storm, or other harm besides Of weather. Give but his horns the slightest touch, His self-collecting power is such, He shrinks into his house with much Displeasure. Where'er he dwells, he dwells alone, Except himself has chattels none, Well satisfied to be his own Whole treasure. Thus, hermit-like, his life he leads, Nor partner of his banquet needs, And if he meets one, only feeds The faster. Who seeks him must be worse than blind, (He and his house are so combined) If, finding it, he fails to find Its master. THE CANTAB. With two spurs or one, and no great matter which, Boots bought, or boots borrow'd, a whip or a switch, Five shillings or less for the hire of his beast, Paid part into hand;--you must wait for the rest. Thus equipt, Academicus climbs up his horse, And out they both sally for better or worse; His heart void of fear, and as light as a feather; And in violent haste to go not knowing whither: 214 TRANSLATIONS FROM VINCENT BOURNE. Through the fields and the towns; (see!) he scampers along, And is look'd at and laugh'd at by old and by young. Till at length overspent, and his sides smear'd with blood, Down tumbles...