Classic and Contemporary Poetry
STANZAS PRINTED ON BILLS OF MORTALITY: 1793, by WILLIAM COWPER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: He lives who lives to god alone Last Line: And mercy cast away. Subject(s): Mortality | ||||||||
De sacris autem haec sit una sententia, ut conserventur.--CIC. de Leg. But let us all concur in this one sentiment, that things sacred be inviolate. HE lives who lives to God, alone, And all are dead beside; For other source than God is none Whence life can be supplied. To live to God is to requite His love as best we may; To make His precepts our delight, His promises our stay. But life, within a narrow ring Of giddy joys comprised, Is falsely named, and no such thing, But rather death disguised. Can life in them deserve the name, Who only live to prove For what poor toys they can disclaim An endless life above? Who, much diseased, yet nothing feel; Much menaced, nothing dread; Have wounds which only God can heal, Yet never ask His aid? Who deem His house a useless place, Faith, want of common sense, And ardour in the Christian race A hypocrite's pretence? Who trample order; and the day Which God asserts His own Dishonour with unhallowed play, And worship Chance alone? If scorn of God's commands, impressed On word and deed, imply The better part of man unblessed With life that cannot die; Such want it: and that want, uncured Till man resigns his breath, Speaks him a criminal, assured Of everlasting death. Sad period to a pleasant course! Yet so will God repay Sabbaths profaned without remorse, And Mercy cast away. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WISE MEN IN THEIR BAD HOURS by ROBINSON JEFFERS READING ALOUD TO MY FATHER by JANE KENYON A COMPARISON by WILLIAM COWPER |
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