JUVENILE POEMS.

THE

BOOKSELLER'S ADVERTISEMENT

то

THE EDITION OF 1674.

THE

HE following Poems of Mr. Cowley being much enquired after, and very foarce (the Town hardly affording one Book, though it hath been four times printed) we thought this fifth edition could not fail of being well received by the world. We presume one reason why they were omitted in the laft collection, was, because the propriety of this copy belonged not to the fame person that published those : but the reception they had found appears by the feveral impreffions through which they had paffed. We dare not say they are equally perfect with those written by the Author in his riper years, yet certainly they are fuch as deferve not to be buried in obfcurity. We prefume the Author's judgment of them is most reasonable to appeal

to;

and you will find him (allowing grains of modefty) give them no small character. His words are in the 6th page of his Preface before his former published Poems *.

You find our excellent Author likewise mentioning and reciting part of these Poems, in his "Several Dif"courfes by way of Effays in Verse and Profe, in the "11th Difcourfe treating of himself." These we fuppose a sufficient authority for our reviving them; and fure there is no ingenuous Reader to whom the smallest remains of Mr. Cowley will be unwelcome. His Poems are every where the copy of his mind; so that by this fupplement to his other volume you have the picture of that so deservedly eminent man from almost his childhood to his latest years, the bud and bloom of his Spring; the warmth of his Summer; the richness and perfection of his Autumn. But, for the Reader's further curiofity, we refer him to the Author's following Preface to them, published by himself.

* See the Author's Preface above, p. 15.

то

TO THE

Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God,

JOH

N

Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and Dean of Westminster.

I

MY LORD,

MIGHT well fear, left these my rude and unpolifhed lines fhould offend your honourable furvey; but that I hope your Nobleness will rather smile at the faults committed by a Child, than cenfure them. Howfoever I defire your Lordship's pardon, for prefenting things fo unworthy to your view; and to accept the good-will of him, who in all duty is bound to be

Your Lordship's

moft humble fervant,

ABRAHAM COWLEY.

2

THE

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

TO HIS

JUVENILE

POEM S.

RE

EADER (I know not yet whether gentle or no) fome, I know, have been angry (I dare not assume the honour of their envy) at my poetical boldness, and blamed in mine, what commends other fruits, earliness: others, who are either of a weak faith, or ftrong malice, have thought me like a pipe, which never founds but when it is blowed in, and read me, not as Abraham Cowley, but Authorem Anonymum. To the first I answer, that it is an envious froft which nips the bloffoms, because they appear quickly to the latter, that he is the worst homicide who ftrives to murder another's fame to both, that it is a ridiculous folly to condemn or laugh at the ftars, because the moon and fun fhine brighter. The small fire I have is rather blown than extinguished by this wind. For the itch of Poefy, by being angered, increafeth; by rubbing, fpreads farther; which appears in that I have ventured upon this Third Edition. What though it be neglected? It is not, I am fure, the first book which hath

lighted

lighted tobacco, or been employed by cooks and grocers. If in all men's judgments it suffer shipwreck, it shall fomething content me, that it hath pleased myself and the Bookfeller. In it you fhall find one argument (and I hope I fhall need no more) to confute unbelievers : which is, that as mine age, and confequently experience (which is yet but little) hath increased, fo they have not left my Poefy flagging behind them. I fhould not be angry to fee any one burn my Piramus and Thisbe, nay, I would do it myself, but that I hope a pardon may easily be gotten for the errors of ten years age. My Conftantius and Philetus confeffeth me two years older when I writ it. The rest were made fince, upon feveral occafions, and perhaps do not belye the time of their birth. Such as they are, they were created by me: but their fate lies in your hands; it is only you can effect, that neither the Bookfeller repent himself of his charge in printing them, nor I of my labour in compofing them. Farewel.

A. COWLEY.

то