As faithful characters he drew

As mortal ever saw;

But, ah! poor parson, when he died,

His breath he could not draw.

William Cowper for the most part writes with a gentle, genial spirit, a love of nature and a joy in the domestic relations

His muse, when humorous, is also a bit stilted.

A FAITHFUL PICTURE OF ORDINARY SOCIETY

The circle formed, we sit in silent state,

Like figures drawn upon a dial-plate.

“Yes, ma’am” and “No, ma’am” uttered softly, show