The Poetical Works of William Cowper (Benham)/On a Mistake in his Translation of Homer

by William Cowper (1731-1800)

ON A MISTAKE IN HIS TRANSLATION OF HOMER.

Cowper had sinned with some excuse,
 If, bound in rhyming tethers,
He had committed this abuse
 Of changing ewes for wethers.

But male for female is a trope,
 A rather bold misnomer,
That would have startled even Pope,
 When he translated Homer.