Death & Dying
Epitaph on Dr. Johnson
From Poems
Death & Dying
Here Johnson lies--a sage by all allow'd,
Whom to have bred may well make England proud,
Whose prose was eloquence, by wisdom taught,
The graceful vehicle of virtuous thought;
Whose verse may claim--grave, masculine, and strong--
Superior praise to the mere poet's song;
Who many a noble gift from heaven possess'd,
And faith at last, alone worth all the rest.
O man, immortal by a double prize,
By fame on earth--by glory in the skies!
Cite this poem
MLA
Cowper, William. “Epitaph on Dr. Johnson.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cowper/80/.
Chicago
Cowper, William. “Epitaph on Dr. Johnson.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cowper/80/.
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