could have brought the gaiety, but not the knowledge; Dryden could
have supplied the knowledge, but not the gaiety.

The verses to Davenant, which are vigorously begun, and happily
concluded, contain some hints of criticism very justly conceived and
happily expressed. Cowley's critical abilities have not been
sufficiently observed: the few decisions and remarks, which his
prefaces and his notes on the "Davideis" supply, were at that time
accessions to English literature, and show such skill as raises our
wish for more examples.

The lines from Jersey are a very curious and pleasing specimen of
the familiar descending to the burlesque.

His two metrical disquisitions FOR and AGAINST Reason are no mean
specimens of metaphysical poetry. The stanzas against knowledge
produce little conviction. In those which are intended to exalt the
human faculties, Reason has its proper task assigned it; that of
judging, not of things revealed, but of the reality of revelation.
In the verses FOR Reason is a passage which Bentley, in the only
English verses which he is known to have written, seems to have
copied, though with the inferiority of an imitator.


The Holy Book like the eighth sphere doth shine
With thousand lights of truth divine,
So numberless the stars, that to our eye
It makes all but one galaxy.
Yet Reason must assist too; for, in seas
So vast and dangerous as these,