prowess, speeches, &c. see various parts of books Time defined, respecting eternity, v. 580. Titan, a fallen angel, i. 510. 1 ree of knowledge, iv. 220. ix. 575. Truth, suffering for it, &c. xii. 569. Twilight described, iv. 398. Tyranny, its origin, xii. 86. Tyrants, their plea for conquest compared with 594. Vacuity, the idea of, refuted by God's omnipresence, &c. i. 193, 284, 292. his speeches, i. 81, 242, Valour, the common notion of it reprehended, xi. Virtue degenerater in slavery, xi. 797. Uriel, his adventures, iii. 622, 694, 724. vi. 363. War, its common origin, xi. 638, 783. 232. Wife, her duty on trying occasions, ix. 267, 290. 664. 677. their existence in life, intellect, &c. vi. Wolves, or false teachers, defined, xii. 507. Woman, her loveliest qualities, ix. 232. advantage xi. 614. in every respect the cause of man's Works, with faith in Christ, eternal life, xil. 420. viii. 218. its situation respecting heaven and hell, X. 320. Zephon, a guardian of Paradise, iv, 788, 823, 834. Zophiel, a cherub, vi. 535, 537 POEMS BY WILLIAM COWPER, Esq. OF THE INNER TEMPLE. Sicut aquæ tremulum labris ubi luinen ahenis Virg. En. vii. So water, trembling in a polish'd vase, LONDON: No. 3, WARWICK SQUARE. PREFACE. WHEN an Author, by appearing in print, requests (as thousands in a similar situation still do that he an audience of the Public, and is upon the point of should continue dissatisfied, with all the means apspeaking for himself, whoever presumes to step be- parently conducive to satisfaction within his reach: fore him with a preface, and to say, 'Nay, but hear but in due time the cause of his disappointment me first,' should have something worthy of atten- was discovered to him-He had lived without God tion to offer, or he will be justly deemed officious in the world. In a memorable hour the wisdom and impertinent. The judicious reader has proba- which is from above visited his heart. Then he bly, upon other occasions, been beforehand with felt himself a wanderer, and then he found a guide. me in this reflection; and I am not very willing it Upon this change of views, a change of plan and should now be applied to me, however I may seem conduct followed of course. When he saw the busy 10 expose myself to the danger of it. But the and the gay world in its true light, he left it with thought of having my own name perpetuated in as little reluctance as a prisoner, when called to connection with the name in the title-page is so liberty, leaves his dungeon. Not that he became pleasing and flattering to the feelings of my heart, a Cynic or an Ascetic.-A heart filled with love to that I am content to risk something for the gratifi- God will assuredly breathe benevolence to men. cation. But the turn of his temper inclining him to rural This Preface is not designed to commend the life, he indulged it, and the providence of God Poems to which it is prefixed. My testimony would evidently preparing his way and marking out his be insufficient for those who are not qualified to retreat, he retired into the country. By these steps judge properly for themselves, and unnecessary to the good hand of God, unknown to me, was prothose who are. Besides, the reasons which render viding for me one of the principal blessings of my it improper and unseemly for a man to celebrate his life; a friend and a counsellor, in whose company own performances, or those of his nearest relatives, for almost seven years, though we were seldom will have some influence in suppressing much of seven successive waking hours separated, I always what he might otherwise wish to say in favour of a found new pleasure: a friend who was not only a friend, when that friend is indeed an alter idem, comfort to myself, but a blessing to the affectionate and excites almost the same emotions of sensibility poor people, among whom I then lived. and affection as he feels for himself. Some time after inclination had thus removed It is very probable these Poems may come into him from the hurry and bustle of life, he was still the hands of some persons, in whom the sight of more secladed by a long indisposition, and my the Author's name will awaken a recollection of pleasure was succeeded by a proportionable degree incidents and scenes, which through length of time of anxiety and concern. But a hope that the God they had almost forgotten. They will be reminded whom he served would support him under his of one, who was once the companion of their chosen affliction, and at length vouchsafe him a happy hours, and who set out with them in early life in deliverance, never forsook me. The desirable the paths which lead to literary honours, to influ- crisis, I trust, is now nearly approaching. The ence and affluence, with equal prospects of success. dawn, the presage of returning day, is already But he was suddenly and powerfully withdrawn arrived. He is again enabled to resume his pen, from those pursuits, and he left them without re- and some of the first fruits of his recovery are here gret; yet not till he had sufficient opportunity of presented to the public. In his principal subjects counting the cost, and of knowing the value of what the same acumen which distinguished him in the he gave up. If happiness could have been found early period of life is happily employed in illustratin classical attainments, in an elegant taste, in the ing and enforcing the truths, of which he received exertions of wit, fancy, and genius, and in the es such deep and unalterable impressions in his mateem and converse of such persons, as in these re- turer years. His satire, if it may be called so, is spects were most congenial with himself, he would benevolent (like the operations of the skilful and have been happy: but he was not. He wondered humane surgeon, who wounds only to heal), dic |