Matthew Prior
(1664-1721)
Contents
The Life and Poetry of Matthew Prior
Brief Introduction: Matthew Prior by Henry Austin Dobson
Complete Poetical Works of Matthew Prior
The Poems
List of Poems in Chronological Order
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
The Satire
The Country Mouse and the City Mouse
The Prose
Essays and Dialogues of the Dead
The Biographies
Prior by Samuel Johnson
Matthew Prior by Henry Austin Dobson
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Matthew Prior
By Delphi Classics, 2019
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Matthew Prior - Delphi Poets Series
First published in the United Kingdom in 2019 by Delphi Classics.
© Delphi Classics, 2019.
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The Life and Poetry of Matthew Prior
Map of Middlesex, drawn by Thomas Kitchin, 1769 — Prior is believed to have been born in this historic English county.
Brief Introduction: Matthew Prior by Henry Austin Dobson
From ‘1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 22’
MATTHEW PRIOR (1664-1721), English poet and diplomatist, was the son of a Nonconformist joiner at Wimborne-Minster, East Dorset, and was born on the 21st of July 1664. His father moved to London, and sent him to Westminster, under Dr Busby. At his father’s death he left school, and fell to the care of his uncle, a vintner in Channel Row. Here Lord Dorset found him reading Horace, and set him to translate an ode. He acquitted himself so well that the earl offered to contribute to the continuance of his education at Westminster. One of his schoolfellows and friends was Charles Montagu, afterwards earl of Halifax. It was to avoid being separated from Montagu and his brother James that Prior accepted, against his patron’s wish, a scholarship recently founded at St John’s College. He took his B.A. degree in 1686, and two years later became a fellow. In collaboration with Montagu he wrote in 1687 the City Mouse and Country Mouse, in ridicule of Dryden’s Hind and Panther. It was an age when satirists were in request, and sure of patronage and promotion. The joint production made the fortune of both authors. Montagu was promoted at once, and Prior three years later was gazetted secretary to the embassy at the Hague. After four years of this employment he was appointed one of the gentlemen of the king’s bedchamber. Apparently, also, he acted as one of the king’s secretaries, and in 1697 he was secretary to the plenipotentiaries who concluded the peace of Ryswick. Prior’s talent for affairs was doubted by Pope, who had no special means of judging, but it is not likely that King William would have employed in this important business a man who had not given proof of diplomatic skill and grasp of details. The poet’s knowledge of French is specially mentioned among his qualifications, and this was recognized by his being sent in the following year to Paris in attendance on the English ambassador. At this period Prior could say with good reason that “he had commonly business enough upon his hands, and was only a poet by accident.” To verse, however, which had laid the foundation of his fortunes, he still occasionally trusted as a means of maintaining his position. His occasional poems during this period include an elegy on Queen Mary in 1695; a satirical version of Boileau’s Ode sur le prise de Namur (1695); some lines on William’s escape from assassination in 1696; and a brief piece called The Secretary. After his return from France Prior became under-secretary of state and succeeded Locke as a commissioner of trade. In 1701 he sat in parliament for East Grinstead. He had certainly been in William’s confidence with regard to the Partition Treaty; but when Somers, Orford and Halifax were impeached for their share in it he voted on the Tory side, and immediately on Anne’s accession he definitely allied himself with Harley and St John. Perhaps in consequence of this for nine years there is no mention of his name in connexion with any public transaction. But when the Tories came into power in 1710 Prior’s diplomatic abilities were again called into action, and till the death of Anne he held a prominent place in all negotiations with the French court, sometimes as secret agent, sometimes in an equivocal position as ambassador’s companion, sometimes as fully accredited but very unpunctually paid ambassador. His share in negotiating the treaty of Utrecht, of which he is said to have disapproved, personally led to its popular nickname of “Matt’s Peace.” When the queen died and the Whigs regained power he was impeached by Sir Robert Walpole and kept in close custody for two years (1715-1717). In 1709 he had already published a collection of verse. During this imprisonment, maintaining his cheerful philosophy, he wrote his longest humorous poem, Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind. This, along with his most ambitious work, Solomon, and other Poems on several Occasions, was published by subscription in 1718. The sum received for this volume (4000 guineas), with a present of £4000 from Lord Harley, enabled him to live in comfort; but he did not long survive his enforced retirement from public life, although he bore his ups and downs with rare equanimity. He died at Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, a seat of the earl of Oxford, on the 18th of September 1721, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, where his monument may be seen in Poet’s Corner. A History of his Own Time was issued by J. Bancks in 1740. The book pretended to be derived from Prior’s papers, but it is doubtful how far it should be regarded as authentic.
Prior had very much the same easy, pleasure-loving disposition as Chaucer (with whose career his life offers a certain parallelism), combined with a similar capacity for solid work. His poems show considerable variety, a pleasant scholarship and great executive skill. The most ambitious, i.e. Solomon, and the paraphrase of the Nut-Brown Maid, are the least successful. But Alma, an admitted imitation of Butler, is a delightful piece of wayward easy humour, full of witty turns and well remembered allusions, and Prior’s mastery of the octo-syllabic couplet is greater than that of Swift or Pope. His tales in rhyme, though often objectionable in their themes, are excellent specimens of narrative skill; and as an epigrammatist he is unrivalled in English. The majority of his love songs are frigid and academic, mere wax-flowers of Parnassus; but in familiar or playful efforts, of which the type are the admirable lines To a Child of Quality, he has still no rival. “Prior’s” — says Thackeray, himself no mean proficient in this kind— “seem to me amongst the easiest, the richest, the most charmingly humorous of English lyrical poems. Horace is always in his mind, and his song and his philosophy, his good sense, his happy easy turns and melody, his loves and his Epicurianism, bear a great resemblance to that most delightful and accomplished master.”
The largest collection of Prior’s verses is that by R. Brimley Johnson in the “Aldine Poets” (2 vols., 1892). There is also a selection in the “Parchment Library,” with introduction and notes by Austin Dobson (1889). (A. D.)
Prior’s first great pa
tron, Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset and 1st Earl of Middlesex (1643-1706) was an English poet and courtier.
The entrance to Dean’s Yard and Westminster School — Prior was sent by his father to Westminster School, under Dr. Busby.
Prior’s schoolmaster, Rev. Dr Richard Busby (1606-1695) was an English Anglican priest, who served as head master of Westminster School for more than fifty-five years. Among the more illustrious of his pupils were Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke, Robert South, John Dryden, John Locke and Matthew Prior.
Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (1661-1715) was Prior’s school fellow and a close friend throughout his life.
Portrait of a man formerly believed to be Matthew Prior, attributed to Michael Dahl
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, (1676-1745), who is generally regarded as the de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain. Walpole was Prior’s great political rival and had the poet impeached and imprisoned in 1715.
Matthew Prior by Thomas Hudson, 1718
Complete Poetical Works of Matthew Prior
GEORGE BELL AND SONS 1907 EDITION TEXT
CONTENTS
VOLUME I.
AN ODE. ON EXODUS III. 14
TO THE COUNTESS OF EXETER. PLAYING ON THE LUTE
ON A PICTURE OF SENECA DYING IN A BATH BY JORDAIN
AN ODE: WHILE BLOOMING YOUTH AND GAY DELIGHT
AN EPISTLE TO FLEETWOOD SHEPHARD, ESQ.
TO THE COUNTESS OF DORSET, WRITTEN IN HHER MILTON, BY MR. BRADBURY.
TO THE LADY DURSLEY
TO MY LORD BUCKHURST, VERY YOUNG, PLAYING WITH A CAT
AN ODE: WHILE FROM OUR LOOKS, FAIR NYMPH, YOU GUESS
A SONG. IN VAIN YOU TELL YOUR PARTING LOVER
THE DESPAIRING SHEPHERD
TO THE HONOURABLE CHARLES MONTAGUE, ESQ.
HYMN TO THE SUN
THE LADY’S LOOKING-GLASS
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP: A PASTORAL
TO THE AUTHOR OF THE FOREGOING PASTORAL
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP:
TO THE AUTHOR OF THE FOREGOING PASTORAL.
TO A LADY, SHE REFUSING TO CONTINUE A DISPUTE WITH ME AND LEAVING ME IN THE ARGUMENT.
SEEING THE DUKE OF ORMOND’S PICTURE AT SIR GODFREY KNELLER’S
CELIA TO DAMON.
AN ODE PRESENTED TO THE KING, ON HIS MAJESTY’S ARRIVAL IN HOLLAND, AFTER THE
IN IMITATION OF ANACREON.
AN ODE.
ODE SUR LA PRISR DE NAMUR, PAR LES ARMES DU ROY, L’ANNEE MDCXCII. PAR MONSIEUR BOILEAU DESPREAUX.
AN ENGLISH BALLAD ON THE TAKING OF NAMUR BY THE KING OF
GREAT BRITAIN, MDCXCV.
PRESENTED TO THE KING, AT HIS ARRIVAL IN HOLLAND, AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF THE CONSPIRACY, MDCXCVI.
TO CLOE WEEPING.
TO MR. HOWARD.
LOVE DISARMED.
CLOE HUNTING.
CUPID AND GANYMEDE.
CUPID MISTAKEN.
VENUS MISTAKEN.
A SONG.
THE DOVE.
A LOVER’S ANGER.
MERCURY AND CUPID.
ON BEAUTY. A RIDDLE.
THE QUESTION, TO LISETTA.
LISETTA’S REPLY.
THE GARLAND.
THE LADY WHO OFFERS HER LOOKING
CLOE JEALOUS.
ANSWER TO CLOE JEALOUS.
A BETTER ANSWER.
PALLAS AND VENUS.
TO A YOUNG GENTLEMAN IN LOVE.
AN ENGLISH PADLOCK.
HANS CARVEL.
A DUTCH PROVERB.
PAULO PURGANTI AND HIS WIFE.
THE LADLE.
WRITTEN AT PARIS, MDCC, IN THE BEGINNING OF ROBBE’S GEOGRAPHY.
WRITTEN IN THE BEGINNING OF MEZERAY’S HISTORY OF FRANCE.
WRITTEN IN THE NOUVEAUX INTERETS DES PRINCES DE L’EUROPE.
ADRIANI MORIENTIS AD ANIMAM SUAM.
IMITATED.
A PASSAGE IN THE MORIÆ ENCOMIUM OF ERASMUS IMITATED.
TO DR. SHERLOCK.
CARMEN SECULARE, FOR THE YEAR MDOO.
AN ODE INSCRIBED TO THE MEMORY OF THE HONOURABLE COLONEL GEORGE VILLIERS.
PROLOGUE SPOKEN AT COURT BEFORE THE QUEEN, ON HER MAJESTY’S BIRTH-DAY, MDCCIV.
A LETTER TO MONSIEUR BOILEAU DESPREAUX, OCCASIONED BY THE VICTORY AT BLENHEIM, MDCCIV.
FOR THE PLAN OF A FOUNTAIN.
THE CHAMELEON
FROM THE GREEK,
EPIGRAM.
ANOTHER
ANOTHER.
ANOTHER.
TO A PERSON WHO WROTE ILL, AND SPOKE WORSE AGAINST ME.
ON THE SAME PERSON.
QUID SIT FUTURUM CRAS FUGE QUÆRERE.
A BALLAD OF THE NOTBROWNE MAYDE.
HENRY AND EMMA
AN ODE, HUMBLY INSCRIB’D TO THE QUEEN.
PREFACE.
AN ODE, HUMBLY INSCRIB’D TO THE QUEEN. ON THE LATE GLORIOUS SUCCESS OF HER MAJESTY’S ARMS. WRITTEN IN IMITATION OF SPENCER’S STILE.
CANTATA. SET BY MONS. GALLIARD
HER RIGHT NAME.
LINES WRITTEN IN AN OVID.
A TRUE MAID.
ANOTHER.
A REASONABLE AFFLICTION.
ANOTHER.
ANOTHER.
ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
PHILLIS’S AGE.
FORMA BONUM FRAGILE.
A CRITICAL MOMENT.
AN EPIGRAM.
EPILOGUE TO PHÆDRA AND HIPPOLITUS.
EPILOGUE TO LUCIUS.
THE THIEF AND CORDELIER.
AN EPITAPH
HORACE, LIB. I, EPIST. IX, IMITATED
TO MR. HARLEY, WOUNDED BY GUISCARD 1711
AN EXTEMPORE INVITATION
TWO BEGGARS
HUMAN LIFE.
PROLOGUE FOR DELIA’S PLAY.
AMARYLLIS. A PASTORAL.
DORINDA.
TO LEONORA.
TO LEONORA.
ON A PRETTY MADWOMAN.
ABSENCE.
THE NEW YEAR’S GIFT TO PHYLLIS.
A SONG. FOR GOD’S-SAKE — NAY, DEAR SIR.
ON SNUFF.
TO CELIA.
UPON A FRIEND, WHO HAD A PAIN IN HIS LEFT SIDE.
SONGS, SET TO MUSIC BY THE MOST EMINENT MASTERS.
I. SET BY MR. ABEL.
II. SET BY MR. PURCELL.
III. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
IV. SET BY MR. SMITH.
V. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
VI. SET BY MR. SMITH.
VII. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
VIII. SET BY MR. SMITH.
IX. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
X. SET BY MR. SMITH.
XI. SET BY MR. SMITH.
XII. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
XIII SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
XIV. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
XV. SET BY MR. SMITH.
XVI. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
XVII. SET BY MR. SMITH.
XVIII. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
XIX. SET BY MR. SMITH.
XX. SET BY C. R.
XXI. HASTE MY NANNETTE, MY LOVELY MAID
XXII. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
XXIII. SET BY MR. DE FESCH.
XXIV. BY MR. DE FESCH.
XXV. SET BY MR. C. R.
XXVI. MOGGY, I MUN BID ADIEU
XXVII. SOME KIND ANGEL, GENTLY FLYING
XXVIII. NELLY.
MISCELLANEA.
AD COMITEM DORCESTRIÆ,
AD DOM. GOWER, COLL. MAGISTRUM, EPISTOLA DEPRECATORIA.
CARMEN DEPRECATORIUM AD EUNDEM.
SISTE MERO BIBULAS EFFUSO TEMPORIS ALAS
REVERENDO IN CHRISTO PATRI THOMÆ SPRAT, EPISCOPO ROFFENSI, ETC.
EPISTOLA EODEM TEMPORE MISSA.
AD FRANC. EPISC. ELIENSEM.
DUM TINGIT SICULUS SOLIS CŒLIQUE MEATUS
IN COMITIS EXONIENSIS CRISTAM, TRITICI FASCEM LEONIBUS SUSTENTATUM.
MDCLXXXIX.
EPITAPHIUM.
ENGRAVEN ON THREE SIDES OF AN ANTIQUE LAMP.
EPITAPH.
INSC
RIPTIO, &c.
EPITAPHIUM JOANNIS COMITIS EXONIÆ. H. S. E.
PROCEM. LITT. PATENT. LIONELLI DUCIS DORSETTIÆ, 1720.
VOLUME II.
ERLE ROBERT’S MICE.
IN THE SAME STYLE.
IN THE SAME STYLE.
A FLOWER PAINTED BY SIMON VARELST.
TO THE LADY ELIZABETH HARLEY, SINCE MARCHIONESS OF CARMARTHEN, ON A COLUMN OF HER DRAWING.
PROTOGENES AND APELLES.
DEMOCRITUS AND HERACLITUS.
FOR MY OWN TOMBSTONE.
GUALTERUS DANISTONUS AD AMICOS.
IMITATED.
THE FIRST HYMN OF CALLIMACHUS.
THE SECOND HYMN OF CALLIMACHUS.
CHARITY.
ENGRAVEN ON A COLUMN IN THE CHURCH OF HALSTEAD IN ESSEX.
WRITTEN IN MONTAIGNE’S ESSAYS.
AN EPISTLE, DESIRING THE QUEEN’S PICTURE.
ALMA; OR, THE PROGRESS OF THE MIND.
CANTO I.
CANTO II.
CANTO III.
SOLOMON ON THE VANITY OF THE WORLD.
PREFACE.
KNOWLEDGE.
BOOK I.
BOOK II.
BOOK III.
CONSIDERATIONS ON PART OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHTH PSALM.
TO THE REV. DR. FRANCIS TURNER.
A PASTORAL. TO DR. TURNER, BISHOP OF ELY; ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM CAMBRIDGE.
AN EPISTLE TO FLEETWOOD SHEPHERD, ESQ.
AD VIRUM.
TRANSLATION.
ON THE TAKING OF NAMUR.
ODE IN IMITATION OF HORACE, III. OD. II.
PROLOGUE SPOKEN BY LORD BUCKHURST, IN WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.
THE SECRETARY.
THE REMEDY WORSE THAN THE DISEASE.
UPON THIS PASSAGE IN THE SCALIGERIANA.
TO A CHILD OF QUALITY, FIVE YEARS OLD, MDCCIV. THE AUTHOR THEN FORTY.
PARTIAL FAME.
TO CLOE.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF DEVONSHIRE.
Complete Works of Matthew Prior Page 1
