To A Young Friend, On His Arriving At Cambridge Wet, When No Rain Had Fallen There.

A poem by William Cowper

If Gideon’s fleece, which drench’d with dew he found
While moisture none refresh’d the herbs around,
Might fitly represent the church, endow’d
With heavenly gifts to heathens not allow’d;
In pledge, perhaps, of favours from on high,
Thy locks were wet when others’ locks were dry:
Heaven grant us half the omen—may we see
Not drought on others, but much dew on thee!