And still to love, though prest with ill

Quote byWilliam Cowper · 1731–1800

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "To Mary", st. 11 (1791).

English (original)

And still to love, though prest with ill, In wintry age to feel no chill, With me is to be lovely still, My Mary!

— 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.

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

Damned below Judas; more abhorred than he was.

Man disobeys, and deity disowns me.

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