William Cowper Poems

To those who love the Lord I speak;
Is my Beloved near?
The Bridegroom of my soul I seek,
...

Pity, says the Theban bard,
From my wishes I discard;
Envy, let me rather be,
...

You give your cheks a rosy stain,
With washes dye your hair;
But paint and washes both are vain
...

To those who love the Lord I speak;
Is my Beloved near?
The Bridegroom of my soul I seek,
Oh! when will He appear?
...

In vain ye woo me to your harmless joys,
Ye pleasant bowers, remote from strife and noise;
Your shades, the witnesses of many a vow,
...

Hermocratia named -- save only one --
Twice fifteen births I bore, and buried none;
For neither Phoebus pierced my thriving joys,
...

Oh! to some distant scene, a willing exile
From the wild roar of this busy world,
Were it my fate with Delia to retire,
...

Gracious Lord, our children see,
By Thy mercy we are free;
But shall these, alas! remain
...

Oh how I love Thy holy Word,
Thy gracious covenant, O Lord!
It guides me in the peaceful way;
I think upon it all the day.
...

They call thee rich -- I deem thee poor,
Since, if thou darest not use thy store,
But savest only for thine heirs,
...