1 6 MAR 1964

LIBRARY

BY

WILLIAM COWPER, Esq.

OF THE INNER TEMPLE.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

Printed by W. Lewis, St. John's-square,

FOR S. A. ODDY, no. 2, Ivy-LANE,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

1814.

TABLE TALK.

Si te fortè mea gravis uret sarcina charte

Abjicito.

-HOR. LIB. I. Epist. 13.

A. YOU told me, I remember, glory, built On selfish principles, is shame and guilt; The deeds that men admire as half divine, Stark naught, because corrupt in their design. Strange doctrine this! that without scruple tears The laurel that the very lightning spares;

VOL. I.

Laurels won in the Field of Honour.

Brings down the warrior's trophy to the dust,
And eats into his bloody sword like rust.

B. 1 grant that, men continuing what they are Fierce, avaricious, proud, there must be war. And never meant the rule should be applied

To him that fights with justice on his side.

Let laurels, drench'd in pure Parnassian dews,

Reward his mem'ry, dear to ev'ry muse,

Who, with a courage of unshaken root,
In honour's field advancing his firm foot,
Plants it upon the line that Justice draws,
And will prevail or perish in her cause.
"Tis to the virtues of such men, man owes
His portion in the good that heav'n bestows.
And, when recording history displays

Feats of renown, though wrought in ancient days;
Tells of a few stout hearts that fought and died
Where duty plac'd them, at their country's side;
The man that is not mov'd with what he reads,
That takes not fire at their heroic deeds