My sister, and my sister’s child

Quote byWilliam Cowper · 1731–1800

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Diverting History of John Gilpin (1785), St. 4.

English (original)

My sister, and my sister’s child, Myself, and children three, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride On horseback after we.

— William Cowper

Beware of desp'rate steps! The darkest day (Live till tomorrow) will have passed away.

But oars alone can ne'er prevail To reach the distant coast; The breath of Heaven must swell the sail, Or all the toil is lost.

Damned below Judas; more abhorred than he was.

Absence from whom we love is worse than death, And frustrate hope severer than despair.

Man disobeys, and deity disowns me.

Oh! I could thresh his old jacket till I made his pension jingle in his pockets.