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The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley

Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed: And Those which he Design'd for the Press, Now Published out of the Authors Original Copies ... The Text Edited by A. R. Waller
Cowley, Abraham (1618-1667)

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[dedication]
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To the Reader.
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SYLVA,
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A DISCOURSE By way of VISION, Concerning the Government of Oliver Cromwell.
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Several Discourses by way of Essays, in Verse and Prose.
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APPENDIX.
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6

To the Reader.

I

I call'd the buskin'd Muse Melpomene,
And told her what sad Story I would write:
Shee wept at hearing such a Tragedie,
Though wont in mournefull Ditties to delight.
If thou dislike these sorrowfull lines; Then know
My Muse with teares, not with Conceits did flow.

II

And as shee my unabler quill did guide,
Her briny teares did on the paper fall,
If then unequall numbers bee espied,
Oh Reader! doe not that my error call,
But thinke her teares defac't it, and blame then
My Muses griefe, and not my missing Pen.
Abraham Cowley.
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