Matthew Prior Quotes

Rise not till noon, if life be but a dream, As Greek and Roman poets have exprest: Add good example to so grave a theme, For he who sleeps the longest lives the best.

And ’twould be a cruel thing, When her black eyes have raised desire, Should she not her bucket bring And kindly help to quench the fire.

So when I am wearied with wandering all day; To thee my delight in the evening I come: No matter what beauties I saw in my way: They were but my visits; but thou art my home.

What I speak, my fair Chloe, and what I write shows The difference there is betwixt Nature and Art: I court others in verse: but I love thee in prose: And they have my whimsies, but thou hast my heart.

On his death bed poor Lubin lies: His spouse is in despair. With frequent sobs and mutual cries They both express their care. A different cause, says parson Sly, The same effect may give: Poor Lubin fears, that he shall die: His wife, that he may live.

Their beer was strong; their wine was port; Their meal was large; their grace was short. They gave the poor the remnant meat, Just when it grew not fit to eat.

They walked and eat, good folks: What then? Why then they walked and eat again: They soundly slept the night away: They did just nothing all the day.

No, no; for my virginity, When I lose that, says Rose, I’ll die: Behind the elms last night, cried Dick, Rose, were you not extremely sick?

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

But of good household features her person was made, Nor by faction cry’d up nor of censure afraid, And her beauty was rather for use than parade.

And of the pangs of absence to remove By letters, soft interpreters of love.

Be to her virtues very kind; Be to her faults a little blind; Let all her ways be unconfined; And clap your padlock-on her mind.

Nobles and heralds, by your leave, Here lies what once was Matthew Prior, The son of Adam and of Eve, Can Stuart or Nassaw go higher?