And hope, in due time, to behold This china, that decks the alcove, Has ne'er been reveal'd to us as yet: All these are not half that I owe Benignity, friendship, and truth; Much less could he alter her mind. Thus compass'd about with the goods I indulge my poetical moods In many such fancies as these ; And fancies I fear they will seemPoets' goods are not often so fine; The poets will swear that I dream, When I sing of the splendour of mine. THE MORALIZER CORRECTED. A TALE. A HERMIT, or, if 'chance you hold Stoppled his cruse, replaced his book And, staff in hand, set forth to share A western bank's still sunny side, Just reach'd it when the sun was set. Presents it deck'd with every hue, Ere long approach life's evening shades, To Of that which call'd his ardour forth. A vicious object still is worse, Is paid, at least, in peace of mind, A brighter prize than that he meant STANZAS SUBJOINED TO THE YEARLY BILL OF MORTALITY, OF THE PARISH OF ALL-SAINTS, NORTHAMPTON, A.D. 1787. [The Mortuary Verses," often so beautiful, always so impressive, were supplied at the request of Samuel Cox, parish clerk of Northampton. In that town, as in several others in England, it is customary to publish yearly about Christmas the annual deaths in the parish. To these lists of mortality Cowper's stanzas were appended; and it is not easy to conceive greater condescension than such a man thus supplying exquisite and valuable poetry in place of the wretched effusions which usually accompany these records of death. But the occasion offered an opportunity of perhaps advancing the interests of religion and morality, and that was reward and motive sufficient. See letter to Lady Hesketh, November 27, 1787, vol. II.] Pallida Mors æquo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas, HORACE. Pale death with equal foot strikes wide the door Of royal halls and hovels of the poor. WHILE thirteen moons saw smoothly run The Nen's barge-laden wave, All these, life's rambling journey done, Was man (frail always) made more frail Did famine, or did plague prevail, No; these were vigorous as their sires, Like crowded forest-trees we stand, Green as the bay-tree, ever green, The gay, the thoughtless, I have seen : Read, ye that run, the solemn truth, No present health can health ensure And oh! that humble as my lot, These truths, though known, too much forgot, I may not teach in vain. So prays your clerk with all his heart, And, ere he quits the pen, Begs you for once to take his part, And answer all - Amen! SONNET ADDRESSED TO HENRY COWPER, ESQ. ON HIS EMPHATICAL AND INTERESTING DELIVERY OF THE DEFENCE OF WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ. IN THE HOUSE OF Llords. [This gentleman was cousin to the poet, and they had been intimate in early life. The Sonnet was first printed anonymously in the Gentleman's Magazine, 1788; General Cowper copied and sent it to the author, as something with which he had been exceedingly pleased.] COWPER, whose silver voice, task'd sometimes hard, (Attentive when thou read'st) of England's peers, Let verse at length yield thee thy just reward. Thou wast not heard with drowsy disregard, Thy generous powers; but silence honour'd thee, Thou art not voice alone, but hast beside Both heart and head ; and couldst with music sweet, Of Attic phrase and senatorial tone, Like thy renown'd forefathers, far and wide Thy fame diffuse, praised not for utterance meet THE POET'S NEW-YEAR'S GIFT. [This little piece, which, according to the decision of a living critic, "includes one of the most delicate complimentary turns that ever poet paid or woman received," was presented to Lady Throckmorton on the first day of the year 1788.] MARIA! I have every good For thee wish'd many a time, To wish thee fairer is no need, |