Belongs to one who venerates in his heart
The wise and good, and therefore of the few
Known by those titles,^ Sir, both yours and
you.
It is unknown to what incident the above refers.
The lines were sent to " Johnny of Norfolk " in a letter
dated May 20, 1792. Mr. Johnson at once forwarded
them to Sir John.
' First written, " Two signs appear.''

= First written, " Distinguished claimants."



To Mary. 77



To Mary.
(autumn of 1793.)



From what is probably the last original copy — that
presented to the Cowper Museum, Olney, by E. P.
Ash, Esq. It contains an additional stanza, marked
here with an asterisk, and "the" instead of "thy" in
Stanza Nine.
'X'HE twentieth year is well nigh past
Since first our sky was overcast ; —
Ah would that this might be the last !

My Mary !

Thy spirits have a fainter flow,

I see thee daily weaker grow : —

'Twas my distress that brought thee low,

My Mary !



78 To Mary.
Thy needles, once a shining store,
For my sake restless heretofore.
Now rust disused, and shine no more.
My Mary ! '

For though thou gladly wouldst fulfil
The same kind office for me still.
Thy sight now seconds not thy will,

My Mary !



But well thou play'dst the housewife's part.
And all thy threads with magic art
Have wound themselves about this heart.
