Poems Translated from the French of Madame De La Mothe Guion, COWPER (William).

PRINTED IN NEWPORT-PAGNEL

by the late William Cowper, Esq. Author of the Task. To which are Added Some Original Poems of Mr. Cowper, not Inserted in his Works.

Woodcut head and tail pieces and ornaments.

First Edition. 12mo. [143 x 88 x 15 mm]. xii, 132 pp. Bound in the original light blue boards, white paper spine, uncut edges. (Spine partly missing). In a later blue cloth drop-over box. [ebc7795]
Newport-Pagnel: printed and sold by J. Wakefield; sold also by T. Williams, 10 Stationers' Court, London, 1801.

Title slightly dust soiled and a few minor spots but a fine copy.

This translation by Cowper was executed in the summer of 1782 at Olney, with the encouragement of his friend, the pastor of Newport-Pagnel independent church, William Bull. Bull claims in the preface that he decided to publish the work after Cowper's death in 1800 because "several copies of them had already got abroad". A second Newport-Pagnel edition followed in 1802 and then a long series of London, provincial and American printings.

Stock no. ebc7795