The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley :: :: University of Virginia Library

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 his deare Friend and Schoole-fellow Abraham Cowley, on his flourishing and hopefull Blossomes.

To his Friend and Schoole-fellow Abraham Cowley, on his Poeticall Blossomes.

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To the Reader.

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CONSTANTIA AND PHILETUS.

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To the Right Worshipfull, my very loving Master, Master Lambert Osbolston, chiefe Schoolmaster of Westminster-Schoole.

THE TRAGICALL HISTORY OF Pyramus and Thisbe.

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An Elegie on the Death of the Right Honourable, Dudley Lord Carleton, Viscount Dorchester, late Principall Secretary of State.

An Elegie on the death of my loving Friend and Cousen, Master Richard Clerke, late of Lincolns Inne, Gent.

A DREAME OF ELYSIUM.

SYLVA,

On his Majesties returne out of Scotland.

A Song on the same.

A Vote.

A Poeticall Revenge.

To the Duchesse of Buckingham.

To his very much honoured Godfather, Master A. B.

An Elegie on the Death of Mris Anne Whitfield.

An Elegie on the Death of John Littleton Esquire, Sonne and Heire to Sir Thomas Littleton, who was drowned leaping into the water to save his younger Brother.

A translation of Verses upon the B. Virgin, written in Latine by the right Worshipfull Dr. A.

Ave Maria.

Gratia Plena.

Dominus tecum.

Benedicta tu in mulieribus.

Et benedictus fructus ventris tui.

Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te.

Et virtus altissimi obumbrabit tibi.

ODE I. On the praise of Poetry.

ODE II. That a pleasant Poverty is to be preferred before discontented Riches.

ODE III. To his Mistris.

ODE IV. On the uncertainty of Fortune. A Translation.

ODE V. In commendation of the time we live under the Reign of our gracious K. Charles.

ODE VI. Upon the shortnesse of Mans life.

An Answer to an Invitation to Cambridge.

A SATYRE. THE PURITAN AND THE PAPIST.

A DISCOURSE By way of VISION, Concerning the Government of Oliver Cromwell.

[Ah, happy Isle, how art thou chang'd and curst]

[Curst be the Man (what do I wish? as though]

[It is a Truth so certain, and so clear]

[When, Lo, e're the last words were fully spoke]

Several Discourses by way of Essays, in Verse and Prose.

1. Of Liberty.

[Who governs his own course with steddy hand]

[Magne Deus, quod ad has vitœ brevis attinet horas]

[Hail, old Patrician Trees, so great and good!]

3. Of Obscurity.

Seneca, ex Thyeste, Act. 2. Chor.

A Paraphrase upon the 10th Epistle of the first Book of Horace.

[I'dmire, Mecænas, how it comes to pass]

A Paraphrase on an Ode in Horace's third Book, beginning thus, Inclusam Danaen turris ahenea.

[8.] The dangers of an Honest man in much Company.

Claudian's Old Man of Verona.

9. The shortness of Life and uncertainty of Riches.

[Why dost thou heap up Wealth, which thou must quit]

10.

10. The danger of Procrastination.

Mart. Lib. 5. Epigr. 59.

Mart. Lib. 2. Ep. 90.

11.

11. Of My self.

[This only grant me, that my means may lye]

Martial. L. 10. Ep. 47.

Martial Book 10. Epigram 96.

To the Duke of Buckingham, upon his Marriage with the Lord Fairfax his Daughter.

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A POEM On the late CIVIL WAR.

APPENDIX.

Coolyes verses uppon my Lady Elisabeth birth on Christmass even 1635. (From Harleian MSS. 6383: first printed by Dr Grosart in his Edition of Cowley.)

Upon the happie Birth of the Duke. From Voces Votivae ab Academicis Cantabrigiensibus etc. MDCXL.

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Miscellanies.

THE MOTTO.

ODE.

To the Lord Falkland. For his safe Return from the Northern Expedition against the SCOTS.

On the Death of Sir Henry Wootton.

On the Death of Mr. Jordan,

On his Majesties Return out of Scotland.

On the Death of Sir Anthony Vandike,

Prometheus ill-painted.

ODE.

Friendship in Absence.

To the Bishop of Lincoln,

To a Lady who made Posies for Rings.

Prologue to the Guardian

The Epilogue.

On the Death of Mr. William Hervey.

ODE.

In imitation of Martials Epigram.

The Chronicle.

To Sir William Davenant.

An Answer to a Copy of Verses sent me to Jersey.

The Tree of Knowledge.

Reason.

On the Death of Mr. Crashaw.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

ELEGIE UPON ANACREON,

Written in Juice of Lemmon.

Leaving Me, and then loving Many.

My Heart discovered.

Answer to the Platonicks.

Resolved to be beloved.

The Heart fled again.

[Then like some wealthy Island thou shalt ly]

Looking on, and discoursing with his Mistress.

Verses lost upon a Wager.

Bathing in the River.

Love given over.

Pindarique ODES,

THE SECOND Olympique Ode OF PINDAR.

THE FIRST Nemeæan Ode OF PINDAR.

The Praise of Pindar.

The 34. Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah.

The Plagues of Egypt.

II.

III.

IV.

Verses written on several occasions.

CHRISTS PASSION

On Orinda's Poems.

ODE.

Upon the Death of the Earl of Balcarres.

ODE.

On the Queens Repairing Somerset House.

The Complaint.

The Adventures of Five hours.

On the death of Mrs. Katherine Philips.

Hymn. To light.

To the Royal Society.

Upon the Chair made out of Sir Francis Drakes ship, Presented to the University Library in Oxford, by John Davis of Deptford, Esquire.

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THE MOTTO.

Tentanda via est, &c.

What shall I do to be for ever known,
And make the Age to come my own?
I shall like Beasts or Common People dy,
Unless you write my Elegy;
Whilst others Great, by being Born are grown,
Their Mothers Labour, not their own.
In this Scale Gold, in th'other Fame does ly,
The weight of that, mounts this so high.
These men are Fortunes Jewels, moulded bright;
Brought forth with their own fire and light.
If I, her vulgar stone for either look;
Out of my self it must be strook.
Yet I must on; what sound is't strikes mine ear?
Sure I Fames Trumpet hear.
It sounds like the last Trumpet; for it can
Raise up the bur'ied Man.
Unpast Alpes stop me, but I'll cut through all,
And march, the Muses Hannibal.
Hence all the flattering vanities that lay
Nets of Roses in the way.
Hence the desire of Honors, or Estate;
And all, that is not above Fate.

Hence Love himself, that Tyrant of my days,
Which intercepts my coming praise.
Come my best Friends, my Books, and lead me on;
'Tis time that I were gon.
Welcome, great Stagirite, and teach me now
All I was born to know.
Thy Scholars vict'ries thou dost far out-do;
He conquer'd th' Earth, the whole World you.
Welcome learn'd Cicero, whose blest Tongue and Wit
Preserves Romes greatness yet.
Thou art the first of Ora'tors; only he
Who best can praise Thee, next must be.
Welcome the Mantu'an Swan, Virgil the Wise,
Whose verse walks highest, but not flies.
Who brought green Poesie to her perfect Age;
And made that Art which was a Rage.
Tell me, ye mighty Three, what shall I do
To be like one of you.
But you have climb'd the Mountains top, there sit
On the calm flour'ishing head of it,
And whilst with wearied steps we upward go,
See Us, and Clouds below.