'Twas a wish that flew ardently forth Maria* would leave us, I knew, To the grief and regret of us all, And therefore this union of hands; Since therefore I seem to incur No danger of wishing in vain, [These lines were written at Eartham, August, 1792, in order to accompany some of Hayley's verses, with whom Darwin was a great favourite, from his care and tenderness as the medical attendant of the first Mrs Hayley.] Two poets, (poets by report Sweet Harmonist of Flora's court! Conspire to honour thee, They best can judge a poet's worth, Who oft themselves have known The pangs of a poetic birth By labours of their own. Lady Throckmorton. We therefore pleased extol thy song, No envy mingles with our praise, They would they must, at thine. But we, in mutual bondage knit And deem the bard, whoe'er he be, Who would not twine a wreath for thee, AN EPITAPH. (1792.) HERE lies one who never drew Blood himself, yet many slew; Gave the gun its aim, and figure Would advance, present, and fire. Neptune was he call'd-not he And, your wonder vain to shorten, EPITAPH ON FOP, A DOG BELONGING TO LADY THROCKMORTON. August, 1792. [These lines were written during Cowper's visit at Eartham. This and the preceding, each inscribed upon a pedestal supporting an urn, still ornament the grounds of Weston.] THOUGH Once a puppy, and though Fop by name, Here moulders one whose bones some honour claim. No sycophant, although of spaniel race, And though no hound, a martyr to the chase Ye squirrels, rabbits, leverets, rejoice, Your haunts no longer echo to his voice; "Yes"-the indignant shade of Fop replies"And worn with vain pursuit man also dies." MORTUARY STANZAS FOR 1792. Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, Happy the mortal, who has traced effects THANKLESS for favours from on high, But he, not wise enough to scan Would gladly stretch life's little span VIRG. Strange fondness of the human heart, Strange world, that costs it so much smart, Whence has the world her magic power? Recoil from weary life's best hour, The cause is Conscience-Conscience oft Her tale of guilt renews: And dread of death ensues. Then, anxious to be longer spared, 'Tis judgment shakes him; there's the fear, That prompts the wish to stay : He has incurr'd a long arrear, And must despair to pay. Pay!-follow Christ, and all is paid; SONNET TO GEORGE ROMNEY, ESQ. ON HIS PICTURE OF ME IN CRAYONS, DRAWN AT EARTHAM IN THE 61ST YEAR OF MY AGE, AND IN THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND september, 1792. October, 1792. [The sonnet was begun at Eartham, but such was Cowper's state of depression, that its completion occupied nearly three months.] ROMNEY, expert infallibly to trace On chart or canvass, not the form alone Well I am satisfied it should be so, Since, on maturer thought, the cause is clear; ON RECEIVING HAYLEY'S PICTURE. IN language warm as could be breathed or penn'd 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; As husband, parent, brother, master, friend. |