poems encompassing many themes and styles Johnson begins his criticism by examining Cowley s early works especially in Miscellanies These poems showcase Cowley s youthful talent and versatility Johnson praises the liveliness and imaginative prowess of these pieces However Johnson also notes that they sometimes lack depth and maturity which is understandable given Cowley s age when he wrote them The Mistress One of Cowley s well-known collections is The Mistress a series of love poems Johnson acknowledges Cowley s skill in crafting clever verses in these poems However Johnson criticizes the poems for being overly intellectual and lacking genuine emotion According to Johnson the poems are more focused on showcasing wit and poetic prowess than conveying heartfelt feelings of love Pindaric Odes Cowley attempted to revive the Pindaric ode a complex form of poetry inspired by the ancient Greek poet Pindar Johnson appreciates Cowley s ambition and technical skill but argues that these odes often feel artificial He suggests that Cowley s adherence to the strict structure of the Pindaric ode sometimes hinders the natural flow of his poetry making it less enjoyable to read Davideis The Davideis is Cowley s unfinished epic about the biblical King David Johnson sees this work as a significant but flawed effort He commends Cowley for choosing a grand and noble subject fitting for an epic poem However Johnson points out that the poem lacks the coherence and polish of a completed work Intellectual Depth According to Johnson Cowley is the last influential metaphysical poet Dr Johnson undoubtedly accepts that metaphysical poets are highly learned and intellectual All of Cowley's writings are a specimen of his deep knowledge and intellectual excellence but his elegies are special for his intellectual excellence On the Death of Mr Crashaw and An Elegy on the Death of the Dean of St Paul's Dr John Donne are Cowley s powerful elegies nbsp Overuse of Conceits Johnson criticizes Cowley for his excessive use of conceits which are elaborate and often far-fetched metaphors or similes Johnson feels that Cowley s overuse of them makes his poetry sometimes seem forced and unnatural Johnson evaluates conceit in the following manner nbsp The most heterogeneous ideas are yoked by violence together nature and art are ransacked for illustrations comparisons and allusions nbsp Thus Johnson evaluates the metaphysical poets who are responsible for the dissociation of sensibility Further Johnson says that nothing can be more disgusting than a narrative decorated with conceits and Davideis the unfinished epic of Cowley abounds in conceits nbsp In conclusion The Life of Cowley Johnson offers his personal reflections on Cowley s life and work He admires Cowley s early genius and versatility but is also critical of his tendency to prioritize wit and technical skill over emotional depth and simplicity Johnson s critique is balanced acknowledging Cowley s strengths while also pointing out his weaknesses