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Matthew Prior
July 21, 1664 – September 18, 1721
Poetry Listing
Please Note: This list is not comprehensive, but is an ongoing work of the love of poetry.
Within this area you will be able to read, and give your thoughts on the poetry listed.
Please, if you find an error, let me know.
Read More About Matthew Prior below poetry list
| | Poem Title | First Lines | Period | # Lines | # Reads | | 1: | A Better Answer | Dear Cloe, how blubber'd is that pretty Face? | | | 1238 | | 2: | A Dutch Proverb | Fire, Water, Woman, are Man's Ruin; | | | 1329 | | 3: | A Flower. Painted By Simon Varelst | When famed Varelst this little wonder drew, | | | 711 | | 4: | A Letter To Lady Margaret Cavendish Holles-Harley, When A Child | My noble, lovely, little Peggy, | | | 792 | | 5: | A Letter To Monsieur Boileau Despreaux, Occasioned By The Victory At Blenheim | Since hired for life, thy servile Muse must sing | 1704 | | 993 | | 6: | A Lover's Anger | As Cloe came into the Room t'other Day, | | | 732 | | 7: | A Passage In The Moriae Encomium Of Erasmus. Imitated | In awful pomp and melancholy state, | | | 798 | | 8: | A Reasonable Affliction | On his death-bed poor Lubin lies: | | | 708 | | 9: | A Sailor's Wife | Quoth Richard in jest looking wistly at Nelly, | | | 999 | | 10: | A Simile | Dear Thomas, didst thou never pop | | | 990 | | 11: | A Song. If Wine And Music Have The Power | If wine and music have the power | | | 748 | | 12: | A Song. In Vain You Tell Your Parting Lover | In vain you tell your parting lover | | | 1007 | | 13: | A True Maid | No, no; for my virginity, | | | 791 | | 14: | Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind. In Three Cantos. - Canto I. | Matthew met Richard, when or where | | | 756 | | 15: | Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind. In Three Cantos. - Canto II. | But shall we take the Muse abroad, | 1718 | | 683 | | 16: | Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind. In Three Cantos. - Canto III. | Richard, who now was half asleep, | 1718 | | 723 | | 17: | An English Ballad, On The Taking Of Namur, By The King Of Great Britain | Some Folks are drunk, yet do not know it: | 1695 | | 822 | | 18: | An Epistle To Fleetwood Shephard, Esq. | When crowding folks, with strange ill faces, | | | 788 | | 19: | An Epistle To Fleetwood Shephard, Esq. Burleigh, May 14, 1689 | As once a twelvemonth to the priest, | 1689 | | 1024 | | 20: | An Epistle. Desiring The Queen's Picture, But Left Unfinished, By The Sudden News Of Her Majesty's Death | The train of equipage and pomp of state, | 1714 | | 900 | | 21: | An Epitaph | Interr'd beneath this marble stone, | | | 937 | | 22: | An Extempore Invitation To The Earl Of Oxford, Lord High Treasurer | My Lord, Our weekly friends to-morrow meet | 1712 | | 1016 | | 23: | An Ode | The merchant, to secure his treasure, | | | 766 | | 24: | An Ode - Humbly Inscribed To The Queen, On the Glorious Success of Her Majesty's Arms | When great Augustus govern'd ancient Rome, | 1706 | | 816 | | 25: | An Ode - In Imitation of Horace, Book III. Ode II. | How long, deluded Albion, wilt thou lie | 1692 | | 714 | | 26: | An Ode - Inscribed To The Memory Of The Hon. Colonel George Villiers | Say, dearest Villiers, poor departed friend, | 1703 | | 712 | | 27: | An Ode - Presented To The King, On His Majesty's Arrival In Holland, After The Queen's Death | At Mary's tomb (sad sacred place!) | 1695 | | 793 | | 28: | An Ode : On Exodus III. 14 | Man! foolish man! | | | 952 | | 29: | An Ode : While Blooming Youth And Gay Delight | While blooming youth and gay delight | | | 777 | | 30: | An Ode : While From Our Looks, Fair Nymph, You Guess | While from our looks, fair nymph, you guess | | | 722 | | 31: | An Ode To A Lady. She Refusing To Continue A Dispute With Me, And Leaving Me In The Argument | Spare, generous victor, spare the slave, | | | 930 | | 32: | An Ode To Mr. Howard | Dear Howard, from the soft assaults of love | | | 968 | | 33: | An Ode. The Merchant, To Secure | The merchant, to secure his treasure, | | | 672 | | 34: | Answer To Cloe Jealous. The Author Sick | Yes, fairest Proof of Beauty's Pow'r, | | | 729 | | 35: | Bibo And Charon | When Bibo thought fit from the world to retreat, | | | 749 | | 36: | By Mons. Fontenelle | Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing, | | | 960 | | 37: | Cantata. Set By Mons. Galliard | Beneath a verdant laurel's ample shade | | | 663 | | 38: | Carmen Seculare. For the Year 1700. To The King | Thy elder Look, Great Janus, cast | 1700 | | 705 | | 39: | Celia To Damon | What can I say? What Arguments can prove | | | 776 | | 40: | Chanson. - And Imitation | Why thus from the plain does my sheperdess rove, | | | 782 | | 41: | Charity : A Paraphrase On 1 Cor. Chap. 13 | Did sweeter Sounds adorn my flowing Tongue, | | | 709 | | 42: | Chaste Florimel | No, I'll endure ten thousand deaths | | | 821 | | 43: | Cloe Jealous | Forbear to ask Me, why I weep; | | | 781 | | 44: | Colin's Mistakes. Written In Imitation Of Spenser's Style | Fast by the banks of Cam was Colin bred, | | | 742 | | 45: | Considerations - On Part Of The 88th Psalm. A College Exercise | Heavy, O Lord, on my thy judgements lie; | 1690 | | 729 | | 46: | Cupid And Ganymede | In Heav'n, one Holy-day, You read | | | 713 | | 47: | Cupid In Ambush | It oft to many has successful been | | | 748 | | 48: | Cupid Mistaken | As after noon, one summer's day, | | | 794 | | 49: | Cupid Turned Ploughman. - From Moschus | His lamp, his bow, and quiver laid aside, | | | 729 | | 50: | Cupid Turned Stroller. - From Anacreon | At dead of night, when stars appear, | | | 728 | | 51: | Cupid's Promise - Paraphrased | Soft Cupid, wanton, amorous boy, | | | 772 | | 52: | Daphne to Apollo. Imitated From The First Book Of Ovid's Metamorphosis | Apollo. Abate, fair fugitive, abate thy speed, | | | 757 | | 53: | Democritus And Heraclitus | Democritus, dear droll, revisit earth, | | | 743 | | 54: | Down-Hall. A Ballad. | I sing not old Jason who travell'd through Greece | 1715 | | 753 | | 55: | Epigram - Frank Carves Very Ill | Frank carves very ill, yet will palm all the meats; | | | 711 | | 56: | Epigram - Thy Nags, The Leanest Things Alive | Thy nags, the leanest things alive, | | | 784 | | 57: | Epigram - To John I Owed Great Obligation | To John I owed great obligation, | | | 698 | | 58: | Epigram - Yes, Every Poet Is A Fool | Yes, every poet is a fool; | | | 739 | | 59: | Epitaph - On Himself | Nobles and Heralds, by your leave! | | | 773 | | 60: | Epitaph Extempore | Nobles and Heralds, by your leave, | | | 790 | | 61: | Erle Robert's Mice. In Chaucer's Style | Tway Mice, full Blythe and Amicable, | | | 727 | | 62: | Fair Susan Did Her Wif-Hede Well Menteine - In Chaucer's Style | Fair Susan did her wif-hede well menteine, | | | 689 | | 63: | Fatal Love | Poor Hal caught his death standing under a spout | | | 766 | | 64: | For My Own Monument | As doctors give physic by way of prevention, | | | 938 | | 65: | For My Own Tombstone | To me 'twas given to die; to thee 'tis given | | | 748 | | 66: | Full Oft Doth Matt. With Topaz Dine - In Chaucer's Style | Full oft doth Matt. with Topaz dine, | | | 909 | | 67: | Gualterus Danistonus, Ad Amicos. - And Imitation | Studious the busy moments to deceive, | | | 1521 | | 68: | Hans Carvel | Hans Carvel, impotent and old, | | | 1086 | | 69: | Henry And Emma. A Poem. | Thou, to whose eyes I bend, at whose command | | | 671 | | 70: | Her Right Name | As Nancy at her toilette sat, | | | 893 | | 71: | Horace, Lib. I, Epist. IX, Imitated. To The Right Honourable Mr. Harley | Dear Dick, how e'er it comes into his head, | | | 868 | | 72: | Hymn To The Sun | Light of the World, and Ruler of the Year, | 1694 | | 757 | | 73: | In Imitation Of Anacreon | Let 'em Censure: what care I? | | | 741 | | 74: | In The Beginning Of Robe's Geography. Written At Paris, 1700. | Of all that William rules, or robe | 1700 | | 1093 | | 75: | Jinny The Just | Releas'd from the noise of the butcher and baker | | | 682 | | 76: | Lisetta's Reply | Sure Cloe Just, and Cloe Fair | | | 971 | | 77: | Love Disarmed | Beneath a Myrtle's verdant Shade | | | 747 | | 78: | Mercury And Cupid | In sullen Humour one Day Jove | | | 695 | | 79: | Merry Andrew | Sly Merry Andrew, the last Southwark fair; | | | 717 | | 80: | Nell and John | When Nell, given o'er by the doctor, was dying, | | | 689 | | 81: | Nonpareil | Let others from the Town retire, | | | 778 | | 82: | Ode - Promesse De L'Amour | Hier, l'Amour touche du son | | | 886 | | 83: | On A Fart - Let In The House Of Commons | Reader, I was born, and cried; | | | 941 | | 84: | On A Picture Of Seneca Dying In A Bath, By Jordain | While cruel Nero only drains | | | 753 | | 85: | On Beauty. A Riddle | Resolve Me, Cloe, what is This: | | | 699 | | 86: | On Bishop Atterbury's Burying The Duke Of Buckingham | I have no hopes, the Duke he says, and dies. | 1721 | | 866 | | 87: | On My Birthday, July 21 | I, My dear, was born to-day | | | 724 | | 88: | On The Same Person (Who Wrote Ill, And Spake Worse, Against Me) | While faster than his costive brain indites | | | 894 | | 89: | Pallas And Venus. An Epigram | The Trojan swain had judged the great dispute, | | | 883 | | 90: | Partial Fame | The sturdy man, if he in love obtains, | | | 727 | | 91: | Paulo Purganti And His Wife: An Honest, But A Simple Pair | Beyond the fix'd and settl'd Rules | | | 941 | | 92: | Phyllis's Age | How old may Phyllis be, you ask, | | | 760 | | 93: | Presented To The King, At His Arrival In Holland, After The Discovery Of The Conspiracy. 1696 | Ye careful Angels, whom eternal Fate | 1696 | | 700 | | 94: | Seeing The Duke Of Ormond's Picture, At Sir Godfrey Kneller's | Out from the injured canvas, Kneller, strike | | | 811 | | 95: | Solomon On The Vanity Of The World, A Poem. In Three Books. - Knowledge. Book I. | Ye sons of men with just regard attend, | 1718 | | 681 | | 96: | Solomon on the Vanity of the World, A Poem. In Three Books. - Pleasure. Book II. | Try then, O man, the moments to deceive | 1718 | | 769 | | 97: | Solomon on the Vanity of the World, A Poem. In Three Books. - Power. Book III. | Come then, my soul: I call thee by that name, | 1718 | | 764 | | 98: | Songs Set To Music: 1. Set By Mr. Abel | Reading ends in melancholy, | | | 706 | | 99: | Songs Set To Music: 10. Set By Mr. Smith | Why, Harry, what ails you? why look you so sad? | | | 682 | | 100: | Songs Set To Music: 11. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Morella, charming without art, | | | 766 | | 101: | Songs Set To Music: 12. Set By Mr. Smith | Since my words, though ne'er so tender, | | | 703 | | 102: | Songs Set To Music: 13. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Love! inform thy faithful creature | | | 703 | | 103: | Songs Set To Music: 14. Set By Mr. Smith | Once I was unconfined and free, | | | 686 | | 104: | Songs Set To Music: 15. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Farewell, Amynta, we must part; | | | 746 | | 105: | Songs Set To Music: 16. Set By Mr. Smith | Accept, my Love, as true a heart | | | 749 | | 106: | Songs Set To Music: 17. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Nanny blushes when I woo her, | | | 771 | | 107: | Songs Set To Music: 18. Set By Mr. Smith | Since we your husband daily see | | | 654 | | 108: | Songs Set To Music: 19. Set By Mr. C. R. | Phillis, give this humour over, | | | 665 | | 109: | Songs Set To Music: 2. Set By Mr. Purcell | Whither would my passion run? | | | 666 | | 110: | Songs Set To Music: 20. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Since by ill fate I'm forced away, | | | 666 | | 111: | Songs Set To Music: 21. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Touch the lyre, touch every string; | | | 697 | | 112: | Songs Set To Music: 22. Set By Mr. De Fesch | In vain, alas! poor Strephon tries | | | 637 | | 113: | Songs Set To Music: 23. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Well, I will never more complain, | | | 679 | | 114: | Songs Set To Music: 24. Set By Mr. C. R. | Cloe beauty has, and wit, | | | 683 | | 115: | Songs Set To Music: 25. | Since, Moggy, I mun bid adieu, | | | 618 | | 116: | Songs Set To Music: 26. | Some kind angel, gently flying, | | | 655 | | 117: | Songs Set To Music: 27. | Haste, my Nannette, | | | 705 | | 118: | Songs Set To Music: 28. Nelly. | Whilst others proclaim | | | 680 | | 119: | Songs Set To Music: 3. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Strephonetta, why d'ye fly me, | | | 690 | | 120: | Songs Set To Music: 4. Set By Mr. Smith | Come, weep no more, for 'tis in vain; | | | 661 | | 121: | Songs Set To Music: 5. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Let perjured fair Amynta know | | | 653 | | 122: | Songs Set To Music: 6. Set By Mr. Smith | Phillis, since we have both been kind, | | | 670 | | 123: | Songs Set To Music: 7. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Phillis, this pious talk give o'er, | | | 627 | | 124: | Songs Set To Music: 8. Set By Mr. Smith | Still, Dorinda, I adore; | | | 632 | | 125: | Songs Set To Music: 9. Set By Mr. De Fesch | Is it, O love, thy want of eyes, | | | 674 | | 126: | The Chameleon | As the Chameleon, who is known | | | 802 | | 127: | The Conversation. A Tale | It always has been a thought discreet | | | 659 | | 128: | The Despairing Shepherd | Alexis shun'd his Fellow Swains, | | | 713 | | 129: | The Dove | In Virgil's Sacred Verse we find, | | | 704 | | 130: | The Dying Adrian To His Soul | Poor, little, pretty, fluttering thing, | | | 696 | | 131: | The English Padlock | Miss Danae, when Fair and Young | | | 869 | | 132: | The Female Phaeton | Thus Kitty, beautiful and young, | | | 764 | | 133: | The First Hymn Of Callimachus. To Jupiter | While we to Jove select the holy victim | | | 712 | | 134: | The Flies | Say, sire of insects, mighty Sol, | | | 646 | | 135: | The Garland | The pride of every grove I chose, | | | 725 | | 136: | The Honest Shepherd | When hungry wolves had trespass'd on the fold, | | | 709 | | 137: | The Judgement Of Venus | When Kneller's works, of various grace, | | | 676 | | 138: | The Ladle. A Tale | The Sceptics think 'twas long ago | | | 605 | | 139: | The Lady Who Offers Her Looking-Glass To Venus | Venus, take my votive glass: | | | 742 | | 140: | The Lady's Looking-Glass | Celia and I the other Day | | | 712 | | 141: | The Merchant, To Secure His Treasure | The merchant, to secure his treasure, | | | 718 | | 142: | The Mice. A Tale - To Mr. Adrian Drift | Two mice, dear boy, of genteel fashion, | | | 779 | | 143: | The Modern Saint | Her time with equal prudence Silvia shares, | | | 653 | | 144: | The New Year's Gift To Phyllis | The circling months begin this day | | | 948 | | 145: | The Nut-Brown Maid. A Poem. | Be it right or wrong, these men among | | | 704 | | 146: | The Old Gentry | That all from Adam first began, | | | 666 | | 147: | The Parallel | Prometheus, forming Mr. Day, | | | 680 | | 148: | The Pedant | Lysander talks extremely well; | | | 1018 | | 149: | The Question To Lisetta | What nymph should I admire or trust, | | | 660 | | 150: | The Remedy Worse Than The Disease | I sent for Ratcliffe, was so ill, | | | 643 | | 151: | The Second Hymn Of Callimachus. To Apollo | Hah! how the laurel, great Apollo's tree, | | | 645 | | 152: | The Secretary | While with labour assiduous due pleasure I mix, | 1696 | | 640 | | 153: | The Thief And Cordelier. A Ballad | Who has e'er been at Paris must needs know the Greve, | | | 879 | | 154: | The Turtle And Sparrow. An Elegiac Tale | Behind an unfrequented glade, | 1708 | | 794 | | 155: | The Viceroy. A Ballad. | Of Nero, tyrant, petty king, | | | 886 | | 156: | The Wandering Pilgrim | Will Piggot must to Coxwould go, | | | 785 | | 157: | To A Child Of Quality, Five Years Old. The Author Then Forty | Lords, knights, and squires, the numerous band | 1710 | | 846 | | 158: | To A Friend On His Nuptials | When Jove lay bless'd in his Alcmæna's charms, | | | 647 | | 159: | To A Lady | Spare, gen'rous victor, spare the slave, | | | 682 | | 160: | To A Person Who Wrote Ill, And Spake Worse, Against Me | Lie Philo untouch'd, on my peaceable shelf, | | | 883 | | 161: | To A Poet Of Quality. Praising The Lady Hinchinbroke | Of thy judicious Muse's sense, | | | 891 | | 162: | To A Young Gentleman In Love. A Tale | From publick Noise and factious Strife, | | | 671 | | 163: | To A Young Lady, Who Was Fond Of Fortune-Telling | You, Madam, may, with safety go | | | 695 | | 164: | To Chloe Jealous | Dear Chloe, how blubber'd is that pretty face; | | | 647 | | 165: | To Chloe Weeping | See, whilst Thou weep'st, fair Cloe, see | | | 809 | | 166: | To Cloe | Whilst I am scorch'd with hot desire, | | | 868 | | 167: | To Dr. Sherlock, On His Practical Discourse Concerning Death | Forgive the muse who, in unhallow'd strains, | | | 680 | | 168: | To Fortune | Whilst I in prison or in court look down, | | | 863 | | 169: | To Mr. Harley - Wounded By Guiscard | In one great now, superior to an age, | 1711 | | 740 | | 170: | To My Lord Buckhurst, Very Young, Playing With A Cat | The amorous youth, whose tender breast | | | 657 | | 171: | To The Author Of The Foregoing Pastoral - (Love And Friendship) | By Sylvia if thy charming self be meant; | | | 846 | | 172: | To The Countess Of Exeter. Playing On The Lute | What charms you have, from what high race you sprung, | | | 650 | | 173: | To The Honourable Charles Montague, Esq. | Howe'er, 'tis well that, while mankind | | | 661 | | 174: | To The Lady Dursley | Here reading how fond Adam was betray'd, | | | 922 | | 175: | To The Lady Elizabeth Harley, Since Marchioness Of Carmarthen, On A Column Of Her Drawing | When future ages shall with wonder view | | | 650 | | 176: | To the Right Honourable The Countess Dowager Of Devonshire, On A Piece Of Wiessen's | Wiessen and nature held a long contest | | | 665 | | 177: | Truth And Falsehood. A Tale | Once on a time, in sunshine weather, | | | 843 | | 178: | Two Riddles. | Sphinx was a monster that would eat | 1710 | | 843 | | 179: | Upon Honour. | Honour, I say, or honest Fame, | | | 634 | | 180: | Upon Playing At Ombre With Two Ladies | I know that Fortune long has wanted sight, | | | 796 | | 181: | Upon This Passage In Scaligeriana | When you with High-Dutch Heeren dine, | | | 632 | | 182: | Venus Mistaken | When Cloe's Picture was to Venus shown; | | | 861 | | 183: | Venus' Advice To The Muses | Thus to the Muses spoke the Cyprian Dame, | | | 825 | | 184: | Verses - Spoken to Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles-Harley, Countess of Oxford | Madam, Since Anna visited the muse's seat, | | | 698 | | 185: | Wives By The Dozen | O Death how thou spoil'st the best project of life, | | | 814 | | 186: | Written In An Ovid | Ovid is the surest guide | | | 724 | | 187: | Written In Montaignes Essays. Given To The Duke Of Shrewsbury In France, After The Peace | Dictate, O mighty judge, what thou hast seen | 1713 | | 634 | | 188: | Written In The Beginning Of Mezeray's History Of France | Whate'er thy countrymen have done | | | 650 | | 189: | Written In The Nouveaux Interests Des Princes De L'Europe | Bless'd be the princes who have fought | | | 867 |
About:
Matthew Prior (July 21, 1664 – September 18, 1721) was an English poet and diplomat.
Prior was the son of a Nonconformist joiner at Wimborne Minster, East Dorset. His father moved to London, and sent him to Westminster School, under Dr. Busby. On his father's death, he left school, and was cared for by his uncle, a vintner in Channel Row.
Here Lord Dorset found him reading Horace, and set him to translate an ode. He did so well that the earl offered to contribute to the continuation of his education at Westminster. One of his schoolfellows and friends was Charles Montagu, 1st 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, Cambridge. 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 John Dryden's The Hind and the Panther.
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