Matthew Prior

"In one great now, superior to an age, The full extremes of nature's force we find: How heavenly virtue can exalt, or rage Infernal how degrade the"

"Thy elder Look, Great Janus, cast Into the long Records of Ages past: Review the Years in fairest Action drest With noted White, Superior to the re"

"It always has been a thought discreet To know the company you meet; And sure there may be secret danger In talking much before a stranger. Agreed:"

"I know that Fortune long has wanted sight, And therefore pardon'd when she did not right; But yet till then it never did appear That, as she wanted"

"Here reading how fond Adam was betray'd, And how by sin Eve's blasted charms decay'd, Our common loss unjustly you complain, So small that part of"

"Why, Harry, what ails you? why look you so sad? To think and ne'er drink will make you stark mad. 'Tis the mistress, the friend, and the bottle, old"

"By Sylvia if thy charming self be meant; If friendship be thy virgin vows' extent, O! let me in Aminta's praises join, Hers my esteem shall be, my"

"What nymph should I admire or trust, But Chloe beauteous, Chloe just? What nymph should I desire to see, But her who leaves the plain for me? To w"

"Of all that William rules, or robe Describes, great Rhea, of thy globe, When or on posthorse or in chaise, With much expense and little ease, My d"

"Madam, Since Anna visited the muse's seat, (Around her tomb let weeping angels wait) Hail, thou, the brightest of thy sex, and best, Most gracious"

"If wine and music have the power To ease the sickness of the soul, Let Phoebis every string explore, And Bacchus fill the sprightly bowl: Let them"

"It oft to many has successful been Upon his arm to let his mistress lean, Or with her airy fan to cool her heat, Or gently squeeze her knees, or pr"

"Venus, take my votive glass: Since I am not what I was, What from this day I shall be, Venus, let me never see."

"That all from Adam first began, None but ungodly Whiston doubts, And that his son and his son's son Were all but ploughmen, clowns, and louts. Ea"

"I sent for Ratcliffe, was so ill, That other doctors gave me over, He felt my pulse, prescribed his pill, And I was likely to recover. But when t"

"Phillis, give this humour over, We too long have time abused; I shall turn an errant rover If the favour's still refused. Faith 'tis nonsense out"

"Miss Danae, when Fair and Young (As Horace has divinely sung) Could not be kept from Jove's Embrace By Doors of Steel, and Walls of Brass. The Rea"

"I sent for Ratcliffe; was so ill,         That other doctors gave me over:     He felt my pulse, prescribed his pill,         And I was likely"

"To me 'twas given to die; to thee 'tis given To live: alas! one moment sets us even. Mark! how impartial is the will of Heaven!"

"Since by ill fate I'm forced away, And snatch'd so soon from those dear arms, Against my will I must obey, And leave those sweet endearing charms."

"Let others from the Town retire, And in the fields seek new delight; My Phillis does such joys inspire, No other objects please my sight. In her"

"Some kind angel, gently flying, Moved with pity at my pain, Tell Corinna I am dying Till with joy we meet again. Tell Corinna, since we parted I"

"In vain, alas! poor Strephon tries To ease his tortured breast, Since Amoret the cure denies, And makes his pain a jest. Ah! fair one, why to me"

"In sullen Humour one Day Jove Sent Hermes down to Ida's Grove, Commanding Cupid to deliver His Store of Darts, his total Quiver; That Hermes shou'"

"I Light of the World, and Ruler of the Year, With happy Speed begin Thy great Career; And, as Thou dost thy radiant Journeys run, Through every d"

"Alexis shun'd his Fellow Swains, Their rural Sports, and jocund Strains: (Heav'n guard us all from Cupid's Bow!) He lost his Crook, He left his Flo"

"When Jove lay bless'd in his Alcmna's charms, Three nights in one he press'd her in his arms; The sun lay set, and conscious nature strove To shad"

"Frank carves very ill, yet will palm all the meats; He eats more than six, and drinks more than he eats. Four pipes after dinner he constantly smoke"

"Fast by the banks of Cam was Colin bred, (Ye Nymphs, for every guard that sacred stream) To Wimple's woody shade his way he sped, (Flourish those w"

"What charms you have, from what high race you sprung, Have been the pleasing subjects of my song: Unskill'd and young, yet something still I writ O"

"Accept, my Love, as true a heart As ever lover gave; 'Tis free (it vows) from my art, And proud to be your slave. Then take it kindly, as 'twas m"

"When Nell, given o'er by the doctor, was dying, And John at the chimney stood decently crying, 'Tis in vain said the woman to make such ado, For to"

"Forgive the muse who, in unhallow'd strains, The saint one moment from his God detains; For sure whate'er you do, where'er you are, 'Tis all but on"

"Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing, Must we no longer live together? And dost thou prune thy trembling wing, To take thy flight thou know'st no"

"The Sceptics think 'twas long ago Since gods came down incognito To see who were their friends or foes, And how our actions fell or rose; That sin"

"As the Chameleon, who is known To have no colours of his own, But borrows from his neighbour's hue His white or black, his green or blue, And stru"

"Whate'er thy countrymen have done By law and wit, by sword and gun, In thee is faithfully recited, And all the living world that view Thy work, gi"

"Written three hundred years since. Be it right or wrong, these men among On women do complayne; Affyrmynge this, how that it is A labour spent in"

"Nanny blushes when I woo her, And with kindly chiding eyes Faintly says I shall undo her; Faintly, O, forbear! she cries. But her breasts while I"

"Whilst I in prison or in court look down, Nor beg thy favour nor deserve thy frown, In vain malicious Fortune hast thou tried By taking from my sta"

"The Argument Solomon, again seeking happiness, inquires if wealth and greatness can produce it: begins with the magnificence of gardens and buildings"

"Thus Kitty, beautiful and young, And wild as colt untamed, Bespoke the fair from whence she sprung, With little rage inflamed. Inflamed with rage"

"While faster than his costive brain indites Philo's quick hand in flowing letters writes; His case appears to me like honest Teague's, When he was"

"The merchant, to secure his treasure, Conveys it in a borrowed name: Euphelia serves to grace my measure, But Cloe is my real flame. My softest v"

"Spare, gen'rous victor, spare the slave, Who did unequal war pursue; That more than triumph he might have, In being overcome by you. In the dispu"

"Forbear to ask Me, why I weep; Vext Cloe to her Shepherd said: 'Tis for my Two poor stragling Sheep Perhaps, or for my Squirrel dead. For mind I w"

"When Kneller's works, of various grace, Were to fair Venus shown, The Goddess spied in every face Some features of her own. Just so, (and pointin"

"On Exodus III. 14. "I am that I am." Man! foolish man! Scarce know'st thou how thyself began, Scarce hadst thou thought enough to prove thou art,"

"The sturdy man, if he in love obtains, In open pomp and triumph reigns: The subtle woman, if she should succeed, Disowns the honour of the deed. T"

"Once I was unconfined and free, Would I had been so still! Enjoying sweetest liberty, And roving at my will. But now, not master of my heart, Cu"

"Dear Chloe, how blubber'd is that pretty face; Thy cheek all on fire, and thy hair all uncurl'd: Prythee quit this caprice; and (as old Falstaff say"

"Ye careful Angels, whom eternal Fate Ordains, on Earth and human Acts to wait; Who turn with secret Pow'r this restless Ball, And bid predestin'd E"

"See, whilst Thou weep'st, fair Cloe, see The World in Sympathy with Thee. The chearful Birds no longer sing, Each drops his Head, and hangs his Win"

"Ma petite ame, ma mignonne, Tu t'en vas donc, m fille, et Dieu scache ou tu vas: Tu pars seulette, nu, et tremblotante, helas! Que deviendra ton"

"My noble, lovely, little Peggy, Let this my First Epistle beg ye, At dawn of morn, and close of even, To lift your heart and hands to Heaven. In d"

"As after noon, one summer's day, Venus stood bathing in a river; Cupid a-shooting went that way, New strung his bow, new fill'd his quiver. With"

"Full oft doth Matt. with Topaz dine, Eateth baked meats, drinketh Greek wine: But Topas his own worke rehearseth, And Matt. mote praise what Topaz"

"Hah! how the laurel, great Apollo's tree, And all the cavern shakes! Far off, far off, The man that is unhallow'd: for the god, The god approaches."

"When hungry wolves had trespass'd on the fold, And the robb'd shepherd his sad story told, "Call in Alcides," said a crafty priest, "Give him one h"

"Lysander talks extremely well; On any subject let him dwell His tropes and figures will content ye He should possess to all degrees The art of tal"