Abraham Cowley

Birth: 1618-01-01 , Cidade de Londres

Death: 1667-07-28 , Chertsey

Abraham Cowley was an influential English poet and essayist of the Baroque period, known for his exuberant style and his exploration of philosophical and moral themes. His poetic works frequently employ complex metaphors and allegories, reflecting the taste of the era for elaboration and ingenuity. As an essayist, Cowley addressed a variety of subjects, from nature and society to the human condition, with a prose that combines erudition and insight.

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I would not fear nor wish my fate, / But boldly say each night, / To-morrow let my sun his beams display, / Or in clouds hide them; I have lived today.

Nothing so soon the drooping Spirits can raise, As Praises from the Men, whom all Men Praise.

God the first garden made, and the first city.

Ye fields of Cambridge, our dear Cambridge, say, Have ye not seen us walking every day? Was there a tree about which did not know The love betwixt us two?

Life is an incurable disease.

What shall I do to be forever known, And make the age to come my own?

Nothing is there to come, and nothing past, But an eternal now does always last.

The thirsty earth soaks up the rain, And drinks, and gapes for drink again. The plants suck in the earth, and are With constant drinking fresh and fair.

A mighty pain to love it is, And ’tis a pain that pain to miss; But of all pains, the greatest pain It is to love, but love in vain.

Ah yet, ere I descend to the grave May I a small house and large garden have; And a few friends, and many books, both true, Both wise, and both delightful too!

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Abraham Cowley (1618-1667) was an English poet and essayist, celebrated in his time as one of the greatest English-language poets. Born in London, he studied at Cambridge and Oxford, and served as an embassy secretary during the royal family's exile. His poetry is a notable example of the metaphysical style, characterized by the use of ingenious conceits, complex reasoning, and vivid imagery. Works such as "The Mistress" and "Pindarique Odes" demonstrate his skill in exploring amorous, philosophical, and patriotic themes. His essays, especially "Essays on Several Subjects," published in 1668 after his death, are considered precursors to the modern English essay. In them, Cowley discusses with clarity and liveliness themes such as solitude, friendship, and the diversity of human nature. Although widely praised in his time, his literary reputation suffered a decline in later centuries, but his impact on the development of English poetry and essay writing is undeniable.