TOTHEPOETCOWPER

tothepoetcowper

_onhisrecoveryfromanindisposition.writtensometimeback

(summer,1796)_

cowper,ithankmygod,thatthouartheal'd.

thinewasthesorestmaladyofall;

andiamsadtothinkthatitshouldlight

upontheworthyhead:butthouartheal'd,

andthouartyet,wetrust,thedestin'dman,

borntore-animatethelyre,whosechords

haveslumber'd,andhaveidlelainsolong;

toth'immortalsoundingofwhosestrings

didmiltonframethestately-pacedverse;

amongwhosewireswithlighterfingerplaying

ourelderbard,spencer,agentlername,

theladymuses'dearestdarlingchild,

enticedforththedeftesttunesyetheard

inhallorbower;takingthedelicateear

ofthebravesidney,andthemaidenqueen.

thou,then,takeupthemightyepicstrain,

cowper,ofengland'sbardsthewisestandthebest!

december1,1796.