On A Mistake In His Translation Of Homer.

Cowper had sinnd with some excuse,
If, bound in rhyming tethers,
He had committed this abuse
Of changing ewes for wethers;^[1]


But, male for female is a trope,
Or rather bold misnomer,
That would have startled even Pope,
When he translated Homer.

William Cowper

William Cowper was an English poet and hymnodist known for his contributions to English literature and the Evangelical revival of the 18th century. He suffered from periods of severe depression and mental illness, which influenced much of his work. Despite his struggles, Cowper produced notable works including 'Olney Hymns' in collaboration with John Newton and 'The Task,' which gained considerable popularity. His poetry is often characterized by its introspective, religious, and sometimes melancholic themes.

William Cowper

To The Rev. Mr. Newton, On His Return From Ramsgate.

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

To Warren Hastings, Esq. By An Old Schoolfellow Of His At Westminster.

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

The Cock-Fighters Garland.[1]

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

Submission.

William Cowper, Simple Poetry

English

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On The Neglect Of Homer.

Could Homer come himself, distressd and poor,
And tune his harp at Rhedicinas door,
The rich old vixen would exclaim (I fear),
Begone! no tramper gets a farthing here.

William Cowper

Lines Addressed To Miss Theodora Jane Cowper.

William was once a bashful youth,
His modesty was such,
That one might say, to say the truth,
He rather had too much.


Some said that it was want of sense,
And others, want of spirit
(So blest a thing is impudence),
While others could not bear it.


But some a different notion had,
And, at each other winking,
Observed that though he little said,
He paid it off with thinking.


Howeer, it happend, by degrees,
He mended, and grew perter,
In company was more at ease,
And dressd a little smarter;


Nay, now and then, could look quite gay,
As other people do;
And sometimes said, or tried to say,
A witty thing or so.


He eyed the women, and made free
To comment on their shapes,
So t...

William Cowper

An Epistle To Robert Lloyd, Esq.

Tis not that I design to rob
Thee of thy birthright, gentle Bob,
For thou art born sole heir, and single,
Of dear Mat Priors easy jingle;
Not that I mean, while thus I knit
My threadbare sentiments together,
To show my genius or my wit,
When God and you know I have neither;
Or such as might be better shown
By letting poetry alone.
Tis not with either of these views
That I presumed to address the muse:
But to divert a fierce banditti
(Sworn foes to every thing thats witty!)
That, with a black, infernal train,
Make cruel inroads in my brain,
And daily threaten to drive thence
My little garrison of sense;
The fierce banditti which I mean
Are gloomy thoughts led on by spleen.
Then theres another reason yet,
Which is, that I may fairly...

William Cowper

On Flaxmans Penelope.

The suitors sinnd, but with a fair excuse,
Whom all this elegance might well seduce;
Nor can our censure on the husband fall,
Who, for a wife so lovely, slew them all.

William Cowper

To Mrs. Throckmorton, On Her Beautiful Transcript Of Horaces Ode, Ad Librum Suum.

Maria, could Horace have guessd
What honour awaited his ode
To his own little volume addressd,
The honour which you have bestowd;
Who have traced it in characters here,
So elegant, even, and neat,
He had laughd at the critical sneer
Which he seems to have trembled to meet.


And sneer, if you please, he had said,
A nymph shall hereafter arise,
Who shall give me, when you are all dead,
The glory your malice denies;
Shall dignity give to my lay,
Although but a mere bagatelle;
And even a poet shall say,
Nothing ever was written so well.

William Cowper

Cowpers Reply.

To be rememberd thus is fame,
And in the first degree;
And did the few, like her, the same,
The press might rest for me.


So Homer, in the memry stored
Of many a Grecian belle,
Was once preserveda richer hoard,
But never lodged so well.

William Cowper