Item 3 (Quotation), front flyleaf v

Quotation from David Lloyd's State Worthies

Sir John Cheke preceptor to Edward the Sixth, was the first that brought a diary into use; and his pupil the next that practised it.

[

This is the entire entry.

Cowper most likely added this quotation after completing the rest of the volume, but before writing "Diary. Volume the first", since it is in a larger shakier hand than the majority of the work, but is not quite as shaky as the rubric.

Item 2 (Preface, Quotation), p.[ii]

Prefatory remarks about spiritual diaries

If private persons did record the signal favours which they receive from the hand of God no question but the frequent reviews of such a memorial would furnish them with abundance of pleasure, as well as administer support under new and unexpected troubles.

...

Where there is a just reflection on the worth of our mercies, it will effectually engage our hearts in the work of praise.

Item 4 (Preface, Quotation), p.[ii]

Prefatory remarks about diaries

It is advisable that thou keep a book in which may be registered for thy own private use, whatever is worthy to be remarked concerning thine outward and inward life.

...

It is the part of a wise man to set his life in order, and to prefix a due end to all his acts of every kind, in the immediate concerns of ordinary conversation and diligently to inquire after the convenient method and means by which he may arrive at his principal intent.

Item 37 (Biblical writing, Quotation), p.40[rev]

Jeremiah 36.verse 22

And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire.

...

Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king nor any of his servants, that heard all these words.

[

This is the entire entry.

The rubric is in the margin.

Cowper actually quotes Jeremiah 36:23-24.

Item 50.1 (Quotation, Political writing), p.51[rev]

The Examiner of Friday the 16th of January. 1712/13. Dr Swift (speaking of the Whigs) concludes with these remarkable words

Their tyranny is at an end, and their ruin very near.

...

I can only advise them to become their fall, like Caesar and die with decency.

[This is the entire quotation.]

Item 10 (Biblical writing, Quotation), fol.[1v][rev]

Quotation from Jeremiah 3:12-13

I am merciful saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever.

...

Only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.

[This is the entire entry. It is isolated from the following collection of biblical quotations and may have been added later.]

Item 11 (Biblical writing, Compilation, Quotation), fols [2r-41r][rev]

Collection of texts from scripture

Exodus 22 28 Thou shalt not revile the Gods. Nor curse the ruler of thy people.

...

To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and Majesty, dominion and power, now and forever Amen.

[Fol.[41r][rev] is the other side of fol.[52r].]

Item 4 (Biblical writing, Compilation, Quotation), fols [12v-35v]

Verses out of Psalms

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

...

The Lord will give strength to his people the Lord will bless his people with peace

[

Preceded by blank fols [10v-12r].

Followed by blank fols [13r-35v].

Item 3.1 (Preface, Quotation), p.[iii]

Prefatory quotation

If you gather all the good out of the books of heathens; and, like the bee; flying over all the gardens of the ancients pass by the poison and only suck the wholesome and excellent juice you will render your mind not a little armed for a common; or as 'tis called a moral good life.

[This is the entire entry.]

Item 3.2 (Preface, Quotation), p.[iii]

Prefatory quotation

The tribute we owe to God who demands a tenth of our substance and a seventh of our time

[This is the entire entry ]

Item 25 (Quotation), p.373

Sr W

His perverse behaviour does exasperate and ruffle the minds of all that relate to him and does disturb and muddy the stream of affairs which would otherwise run smooth and clear.

[This is the entire entry.]

Item 3 (Biblical writing, Quotation), p.2

Proverbs 10.14.

Wise men lay up knowledge.

[

The rubric is in the margin.

This is the entire entry. It is in a slightly different hand than the following text, indicating that it may have been inserted later.

Item 5.14 (Quotation), p.192

Bishop Hall

If an angel from heaven should say he could sufficiently comment upon the Holy Scripture I should distrust him.

...

I touch upon it as one that knows, it is easy to say more, and impossible to say enough.

[

The rubric is in the margin.

This is the entire entry.

Item 8 (Commonplace, Compilation, Quotation), pp.348-356

Precepts out of Herbert's Poem

Stay at the third glass ---

...

Lord say Amen. And Thine be all the praise.

Item 1 (Verse, Quotation), fol.[1]

Phaedra, lines 773-4

Res est forma fugax quis sapiens bono confidat fragili?

['Beauty is fugitive: can a wise man trust so fragile a boon?']

Item 2 (Verse, Quotation), fol.[2]

Phaedra, lines 761-7

Anceps Forma bonum mortalibus exiqui donum

...

Breue temporis ut Velox celeri pede laberis.

['Beauty - a doubtful boon for mortals, a brief and short-lived gift, how fleeting, how swiftly passing']

Item 3 (Verse, Quotation), fol.[3]

Phaedra, lines 918-19

O vita fallax! Abditos sensus geris Animisque

...

Pulchram turpibus faciem Induis.

['O deceitful life, harbouring secret thoughts and putting a fair face on an ugly spirit']

Item 4 (Verse, Quotation), fol.[4]

Agamemnon, lines 129-30

Proin quicquid da tempus ac spacium tibi

...

Quod ratio nequiit saepe sanavit mora

['So whatever it is, give yourself time and space: delay often cures what reason cannot']

Item 5 (Verse, Quotation), fol.[5]

Thyestes, lines 401-03

Illi mors gravis incubat qui notus nimis

...

Omnibus ignotus moritur sibi

['Death weighs heavy on one who, too well known to all, dies unknown to himself']

Item 6 (Verse, Quotation), fol.[6]

Thyestes, lines 389-90

Rex est, qui metuit nihil, Rex est qui cupiet nihil, hoc

...

Regnum sibi quisque dat.

['A king is one who fears nothing, a king is one who will want nothing, each grants himself this kingship']

Item 7 (Verse, Quotation), fol.[7]

'Doomsday', The first hour, lines 911-2

Ah for ones error all the world hath wept

...

The golden Fruit a leaden Dragon kept

Item 12 (Quotation), fol.[12]

Quotation from A Short Introduction of Grammar

Quis nisi mentis inops oblatum respuet aurum.

['Who, unless mad, will refuse offered gold']

Item 15 (Quotation), fol.[16]

Quotation from Sententiae

Amantium ira Amoris integratio est

[

'The anger of lovers renews their love'

Copied three times.

Item 16 (Quotation), fol.[16]

Eclogues, viii 63

Non omnia possumus omnes

[

'We cannot all do everything'

Copied seven times.