English poem
To Mrs. Throckmorton, On Her Beautiful Transcript Of Horace's Ode, 'Ad Librum Suum.'
Maria, could Horace have guess'd What honour awaited his ode To his own little volume address'd, The honour which you have bestow'd; Who have traced it in characters here, So elegant, even, and neat, He had laugh'd 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.
More by William Cowper
- To Mr. John Rouse, Librarian of the University of Oxford, An Ode[1] on a Lost Volume of my Poems Which He Desired Me to Replace that He Might Add Them to My Other Works Deposited in the Library.
- To Mrs. King, On Her Kind Present To The Author, A Patchwork Counterpane Of Her Own Making.
- To Mrs. Newton.
- To Mrs. Newton.[101]
- To Mrs. Unwin.
- To My Cousin, Anne Bodham, On Receiving From Her A Network Purse Made By Herself.
- To My Father.
- To Sir Joshua Reynolds.