The Poems of William Cowper (Classic Reprint)

At this period, he was led into a deep consideration of his religious state; and, having imbibed the doctrine of election and reprobation in its most appalling rigor, he was led to a very dismal state of apprehension. We are told, that the terror of eternal judgment overpowered and actually disordered his faculties; and he remained seven montns in a continual expectation of being instantly plunged into eternal misery. In this shocking condition confinement became necessary, and he was placed in a receptacle for lunatics, kept by the amiable and well-known doctor Cottori of St. Alban s. At length, his mind recovered a degree of serenity, and he retired to Huntingdon, where he formed an acquaintance with the family of the reverend Mr. Unwin, which ripened into the strictest intimacy. In 177S ,he was again assailed by religious despondency, and endured a partial alienation of mind for some years, dung which affliction he was highly indebted to the affectionate care ot Mrs. Unwin. In 1778 he again recovered ;in 1780 he was persuaded to translate some of the spiritual songs ot the celebrated madame Guion. Jn the same and the following year, he was also induced to prepare a volume ol poems for the press, whic was printed in 1782. This volume did not attract my great degree of public attention. The principal topics are, Error, Truth, Expostulation, Hope, Charity, Retirement and Conversation ;all of which are treated with originality, But, at the same time, with a portion of religious austerity, which, without some very striking recommendation, was not, at that time, of a nature, 16 acquire popularity. They are in rhymed heroirj; the style being rather strong than poetical, although never flat or insipid. A short time before the publication of this volume, Mr. Cowper became acquainted with lady A usten, widow of Sir Robert A usten, who subsequently resided, for some(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.) Read more