The glittering steel is sure:
Sooner or later, all agree,
She cuts off the impure.
To her I leave thee, gloomy peer!
Think on thy crimes committed:
Repent, and be for once sincere,
Thou ne’er wilt be De-Witted. 220
WHEN THE CAT IS AWAY, THE MICE MAY PLAY.
A FABLE, INSCRIBED TO DE. SWIFT.
In domibus Mures avido dente omnia captant:
In domibus Fures avida mente omnia raptant.
A LADY once (so stories say)
By rats and mice infested,
With gins and traps long sought to slay
The thieves; but still they ‘scap’d away,
And daily her molested.
Great havoc ‘mongst her cheese was made,
And much the loss did grieve her:
At length Grimalkin to her aid
She call’d (no more of cats afraid),
And begg’d him to relieve her. 10
Soon as Grimalkin came in view,
The vermin back retreated;
Grimalkin swift as lightning flew,
Thousands of mice he daily slew,
Thousands of rats defeated.
Ne’er cat before such glory won;
All people did adore him:
Grimalkin far all cats outshone,
And in his lady’s favour none
Was then preferr’d before him. 20
Pert Mrs. Abigail alone
Envied Grimalkin’s glory;
Her favourite lap-dog now was grown
Neglected; him she did bemoan,
And rav’d like any Tory.
She cannot bear, she swears she won’t,
To see the cat regarded;
But firmly is resolv’d upon’t,
And vows, that, whatsoe’er comes on’t,
She’ll have the cat discarded. 30
She begs, she storms, she fawns, she frets,
Her arts are all employ’d,
And tells her lady, in a pet,
Grimalkin cost her more in meat
Than all the rats destroy’d.
At length this spiteful waiting-maid
Produced a thing amazing:
The favourite cat’s a victim made,
To satisfy this prating jade,
And fairly turn’d a-grazing. 40
Now lap-dog is again restor’d
Into his lady’s favour;
Sumptuously kept at bed and board,
And he (so Nab has given her word)
Shall from all vermin save her.
Nab much exults at this success,
And, overwhelm’d with joy,
Her lady fondly does caress,
And tells her, Fubb can do no less
Than all her foes destroy. 50
But vain such hopes; the mice that fled
Return now Grim’s discarded:
Whilst Fubb till ten, on silken bed,
Securely lolls his drowsy head,
And leaves the cheese unguarded.
Nor rats nor mice the lap-dog fear,
Now uncontroll’d their theft is:
And whatsoe’er the vermin spare,
Nab and her dog betwixt them share,
Nor pie nor pippin left is. 60
Meanwhile, to cover their deceit,
At once, and slander Grim;
Nab says, the cat comes, out of spite,
To rob her lady every night,
So lays it all on him.
Nor corn secure in garret high,
Nor cheesecake safe in closet;
The cellars now unguarded lie,
On every shelf the vermin prey;
And still Grimalkin does it. 70
The gains from com apace decay’d,
No bags to market go:
Complaints came from the dairy-maid,
The mice had spoil’d her butter trade,
And eke her cheese also.
With this same lady once there liv’d
A trusty servant maid,
Who, hearing this, full much was griev’d,
Fearing her lady was deceiv’d,
And hasten’d to her aid. 80
Much art she us’d for to disclose
And find out the deceit;
At length she to the lady goes,
Discovers her domestic foes,
And opens all the cheat.
Struck with the sense of her mistake,
The lady, discontented,
Resolves again her cat to take,
And ne’er again her cat forsake,
Lest she again repent it. 90
THE WIDOW AND HER CAT,
A FABLE.
WIDOW kept a favourite cat,
At first a gentle creature;
But, when he was grown sleek and fat,
With many a mouse, and many a rat,
He soon disclos’d his nature.
The fox and he were friends of old,
Nor could they now be parted;
They nightly slunk to rob the fold,
Devour’d the lambs, the fleeces sold;
And puss grew lion-hearted. 10
He scratch’d her maid, he stole the cream,
He tore her best lac’d pinner;
Nor chanticleer upon the beam,
Nor chick, nor duckling, ‘scapes, when Grim
Invites the fox to dinner.
The dame full wisely did decree,
For fear he should dispatch more,
That the false wretch should worried be;
But, in a saucy manner, he
Thus speech’d it like a Lechmere: 20
“Must I, against all right and law,
Like polecat vile be treated?
I, who so long with tooth and claw
Have kept domestic mice in awe,
And foreign foes defeated!
“Your golden pippins, and your pies,
How oft have I defended!
’Tis true, the pinner, which you prize,
I tore in frolic; to your eyes
I never harm intended. 30
“I am a cat of honour.”—” Stay!”
Quoth she, “no longer parley;
Whate’er you did in battle slay,
By law of arms, became your prey:
I hope you won it fairly.
“Of this we’ll grant you stand acquit,
But not of your outrages:
Tell me, perfidious! was it fit
To make my cream a perquisite,
And steal, to mend your wages? 40
“So flagrant is thy insolence,
So vile thy breach of trust is,
That longer with thee to dispense,
Were want of power, or want of sense —
Here, Towzer! — do him justice.”
ON THE MARRIAGE OF GEORGE PRINCE OF DENMARK, AND THE LADY ANNE, 1683.
CONJUNCTUM Veneri Martem, Danosquo Britannis
Dum canit altisonis docta caterva
Affero sincerum culto pro carmine votum,
Quod minus ingenii, plus pietatis habet.
Vivant Ambo diu, vivant féliciter, opto;
Diligat hic sponsam, diligat illa virum.
Junctos perpetuâ teneas, Hymenæe, catena;
Junctos, Juno, die protege; nocte, Venus!
Exultent simili felices prole parentes,
Ut petat hinc multos natio bina duces! 10
Cumque senes pariter cupiant valedicere terris,
Nè mors augustum dividat atra jugum:
Sed qualis raptum transvexit currus Elijam,
Transvehat ad superas talis utrumque domos!
A. PRIOR, Coll. Div. Joh. Alumn.
COLIN’S MISTAKES.
WRITTEN IN IMITATION OF SPENCER’S STYLE.
me ludit amabilis insania, — HOR.
I.
FAST by the banks of Gam was Colin bred:
(Ye nymphs for ever guard that sacred stream;)
To Wimpolés woody sha
de his way he sped:
(Flourish those woods, the muses’ endless theme.)
As whilom Colin antient books had read,
Lays Greek and Roman wou’d he oft rehearse;
And much he lov’d, and much by heart he laid,
What Father Spenser sung in British verse.
Who reads that bard, desires like him to write;
Still fearful of success, still tempted by delight. 10
II.
Soon as Aurora bad unbarr’d the morn,
And light discover’d Nature’s cbearful face,
And sounding clarion and the sprightly horn
Call’d the blythe huntsman to the distant chace.
Eftsoons they issue forth, a goodly band;
The deep-mouth’d hounds with thunder rend the air,
The fiery coursers strike the rising sand,;
Far thro’ the thicket flies the frighted deer; —
Harley the honour of the day supports;
His presence glads the woods, his orders guide the sports. 20
III.
On a fair palfrey well equipp’d did sit
An Amazonian dame; a scarlet vest,
For active horsemanship adaptly fit,
Inclos’d her dainty limbs; a plumed crest
Wav’d o’er her head; obedient by her side
Her friends and servants rode; with artful hand
Full well knew she the steed to turn and guide: —
The willing steed receiv’d her soft command.
Courage and sweetness on her face were seated;
On her all eyes were bent, and all good wishes waited. 30
IV.
This feeling, Colin thus his Muse bespake:
For alltydes was the Muse to Colin nigh,
Ah me too nigh! or, Clio I mistake,
Or that bright form that pleaseth so mine eye,
Is Jove’s fair daughter Pallas, gracious queen
Of lib’ral arts; with wonder and delight
In Homer’s verse we read her; well I ween,
That em’lous of his Grecian master’s flight,
Dan Spenser makes the fav’rifce goddess known,
When in her graceful look fair Britomart is shown. 40
V.
At noon as Colin to the castle came,
Op’d were the gates, and right prepar’d the feast;
Appears at table rich yclad a dame,
The lord’s delight, the wonder of the guest;
With pearls and jewels was she sumptuous deckt,
As well became her dignity and place;
Bat the beholders mought her gems neglect,
To fix their eyes on her more lovely face,
Serene with glory, and with softness bright:
O Beauty sent from heav’n, to chear the mortal sight! 50
VI.
Lib’ral munificence behind her stood;
And decent state obey’d her high command;
And charity diffuse of native good
At once pourtrayes her mind, and guides her hand.
As to each guest some fruits she deign’d to lift,
And silence with obliging parley broke,
How gracious seem’d to each th’ imparted gift!
But how more gracious what the giver spoke!
Such ease, such freedom did her deed attend, 59
That ev’ry guest rejoic’d, exalted to a friend.
VII.
Quoth Colin; Clio, if my feeble sense
Can well distinguish yon illustrious dame,
Who nobly doth such gentle gifts dispense,
In Latian numbers Juno is her name;
Great goddess, who with peace and plenty crown’d,
To all that under sky breathe vital air,
Diffuseth bliss, and thro’ the world around
Pours wealthy ease, and scatters joyous ckear;
Certes of her in semblant guise I read,
When Spenser decks his lays with Gloriana’s deed. 70
VIII.
As Colin, mus’d at ev’ning near the wood,
A nymph undress’d, beseemeth, by him past,
Down to her feet her silken garment flow’d,
A ribbon bound and shap’d her slender waist; —
A veil, dependent from her comely head,
And beauteous plenty of ambrosial hair,
O’er her fair breast and lovely shoulders spread,
Behind fell loose, and wanton’d with the air.
The smiling Zephyrs call’d their am’rous brothers:
They kiss’d the waving lawn, and wafted it to others. 80
IX.
Daisies and violets rose where’er she trod,
As Flora kind her roots and buds had sorted:
And led by Hymen, wedlock’s mystic god,
Ten thousand loves around the nymph disported.
Quoth Colin; Now I ken the goddess bright,
Whom poets sing: all human hearts enthrall’d
Obey her pow’r; her kindness the delight
Of gods and men; great Venus she is call’d,
When Mantuan VIRGIL doth her charms rehearse; 89
Belphebe is her name, in gentle Edmund’s verse.
X.
Heard this the Muse, and with a smile reply’d,
Which show’d soft anger mix’d with friendly love:
Twin sisters still were ignorance and pride;
Can we know right, till error we remove?
But Colin, well I wist, will never learn;
Who slights his guide shall deviate from his way:
Me to have ask’d what thou cou’dst not discera,
To thee pertain’d; to me the thing to say.
What heav’nly will from human eye conceals,
How can the Bard aread, unless the Muse reveals. 100
Nor Pallas thon, nor Britomart hast seen;
When soon at morn the flying deer was chac’d:
Nor Jove’s great wife, nor Spenser’s Fairy Queen,
At noontide dealt the honours of the feast:
Nor Venus, nor Belphehe didst thou spy,
The evening’s glory, and the grove’s delight.
Henceforth, if ask’d, instruct’d right, reply,
That all the day to knowing mortal’s sight
Bright Ca’ndish Holies Harley stood confest,
At various hours advis’d, in various habit drest. 110
QUEEN MARY’S DEATH.
NUMBER the sands extended here;
So many Mary’s virtues were:
Number the drops the yonder roll;
So many griefs press William’s soul.
AD REGIOS FRATES.
QUALITER exomant gemind qui lampede
Si simul eniteant, non feret axis onus:
Sic cœlo quod abest, ne numine terre fruatur,
Alternâ decorât vos diadema vica.
Sydera tu calca, tu protege serior orbem;
Nam deus è vobis alter eo, alter eris,
M. Prior, Coll. D. John. Alum.
COUPLET IN WIMPOLE LIBRARY.
FΑΜΕ counting thy books, my dear
Harley, shall tell,
No man had so many and knew them so well.
TO DORSET.
Hague, ye 14 May. [16]94.
.... This letter may end like my last, with my prayers for yr, lordship’s health and happiness.
SPARE Dorsett’s sacred life, decerning
And death shall march thrô courts and camps in state,
Emptying his quiver on the vulgar great;
Round Dorsett’s board lett peace and plenty dance,
Far off lett famine her sad reign advance,
And war walk deep in blood thro conquered France.
Apollo thus began the mystic strain,
The muses’ sons all bow’d and sayd Amen.
I am with eternall duty and respect, my lord,
Yr lordship’s most obl and most humble ser
M. PRIOR.
A COMPLIMENT.
MAIS cette voix, et ces beaux yeux
Font Cupidon trop dangereux,
Et je suis triste quand je crie
Banissons la mélancolie.
CONSCIENCE.
ACCORDING TO THE VICAR OF BRAY.
FOR conscience like a fiery horse,
Will stumble if you check his course:
But ride him with an easy rein,
And rub him down with worldly gain,
He’ll carry you through thick and thin
Safe, although dirty, to your inn.
EPIGRAM ALLUDED TO IN POPE’S CORRESPONDENCE WITH LORD OXFORD.
LIKE a true Irish marlin that misses her
Little Nanny sat pensive and sullen all night:
The jack-daw escaped her, the loss was not great
She may yet take a wood-cock, and that’s better meat.
The Poems
Prior took his B.A. degree in 1686 at St John’s College, Cambridge.
Engraving of St John’s College, David Loggan, c. 1685
List of Poems in Chronological Order
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.
Complete Works of Matthew Prior Page 46
