Social Commentaries

On a Miser (A Third)

by William Cowper 1731–1800

Translated by William Cowper · From Translations

Social Commentaries

Art thou some individual of a kind
Long-liv'd by nature as the rook or hind?
Heap treasure, then, for if thy need be such,
Thou hast excuse, and scarce canst heap too much.

But man thou seem'st, clear therefore from thy breast
This lust of treasure--folly at the best!
For why shouldst thou go wasted to the tomb,
To fatten with thy spoils, thou know'st not whom?

✦ ✦ ✦

Translated from the Greek.

MLA

Cowper, William. “On a Miser (A Third).” Translated by William Cowper. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cowper/375/.

Chicago

Cowper, William. “On a Miser (A Third).” Translated by William Cowper. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cowper/375/.

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