Religion
Happy Solitude--Unhappy Men
Translated by William Cowper · From Translations
My heart is easy, and my burthen light;
I smile, though sad, when thou art in my sight:
The more my woes in secret I deplore,
I taste thy goodness, and I love, the more.
There, while a solemn stillness reigns around,
Faith, Love, and Hope, within my soul abound;
And while the world suppose me lost in care,
The joys of angels, unperceiv'd, I share.
Thy creatures wrong thee, O thou sov'reign Good!
Thou art not lov'd, because not understood;
This grieves me most, that vain pursuits beguile
Ungrateful men, regardless of thy smile.
Frail beauty, and false honour, are ador'd;
While thee they scorn, and trifle with thy word;
Pass, unconcern'd, a Saviour's sorrows by;
And hunt their ruin, with a zeal to die.
Codex Note
From the French of Madame Guion.
Cite this poem
MLA
Cowper, William. “Happy Solitude--Unhappy Men.” Translated by William Cowper. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cowper/293/.
Chicago
Cowper, William. “Happy Solitude--Unhappy Men.” Translated by William Cowper. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cowper/293/.
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