An Epitaph

William Cowper 1731 (Berkhamsted) – 1800 (Dereham)



Here lies one who never drew
Blood himself, yet many slew;
Gave the gun its aim, and figure
Made in field, yet ne'er pulled trigger.
Armed men have gladly made
Him their guide, and him obeyed;
At his signified desire,
Would advance, present, and fire.
Stout he was, and large of limb,
Scores have fled at sight of him;
And to all his fame he rose
Only following his nose.
Neptune was he called; not he
Who controls the boisterous sea.
But of happier command,
Neptune of the furrowed land;
And, your wonder vain to shorten,
Pointer to Sir John Throckmorton.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

31 sec read
89

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCBBDDEEFFGGHH
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 547
Words 103
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 18

William Cowper

William Macquarie Cowper was an Australian Anglican archdeacon and Dean of Sydney. more…

All William Cowper poems | William Cowper Books

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