Abraham Cowley

  • A Wish

    This only grant me, that my means may lie
    Too low for envy, for contempt too high.
        Some honor I would have,
    Not from great deeds, but good alone;
    The unknown are better than ill known:
        Rumor can ope the grave.
    Acquaintance I would have, but...

  • Invocation

    From “The Davideis”
    AWAKE, awake, my Lyre!
    And tell thy silent master’s humble tale
    In sounds that may prevail;
    Sounds that gentle thoughts inspire:
    Though so exalted she,
    And I so lowly be,
    Tell her, such different notes make all thy...

  • From the “Hymn to Light”

      SAY, from what golden quivers of the sky
          Do all thy wingèd arrows fly?
          Swiftness and Power by birth are thine:
    From thy great sire they came, thy sire, the Word Divine.

      Thou in the Moon’s bright chariot, proud and gay,
          Dost thy...

  • The Chronicle

    Margarita first possessed,
    If I remember well, my breast,
      Margarita first of all;
    But when awhile the wanton maid
    With my restless heart had played,
      Martha took the flying ball.

    Martha soon did it resign
    To the beauteous Catharine....