And yet it grieves my heart Death strike me with his dart! Thou shalt eat crudded cream And drink the crystal stream Whig and whey whilst thou lust, Pie-lid and pastry crust, Pears, plums, and cherries; Thy raiment shall be thin, Made of a weevil's skin Yet all's not worth a pin: Fair maiden! have a care, I can have those as fair, If you forsake me: For Doll the dairy maid Laughed at me lately, And wanton Winifred Favours me greatly. One throws milk on my clothes, T'other plays with my nose: What wanting signs are those! Phillada flouts me. I cannot work nor sleep Love wounds my heart so deep, I 'gin to pine away In my love's shadow, Like as a fat beast may Penned in a meadow. I shall be dead, I fear, Phillada flouts me. CXVI. MATTHEW PRIOR, 1664-1721. TO A CHILD OF QUALITY, FIVE YEARS OLD. MDCCIV. THE AUTHOR THEN FORTY. LORDS, knights, and squires, the numerous band, That wear the fair Miss Mary's fetters, Were summoned by her high command, My pen amongst the rest I took, Lest those bright eyes that cannot read Should dart their kindling fires, and look, The power they have to be obeyed. Nor quality, nor reputation, Forbid me yet my flame to tell, Dear five years old befriends my passion, For while she makes her silk-worms beds, She may receive and own my flame, For though the strictest prudes should know it, She'll pass for a most virtuous dame, And I for an unhappy poet. Then too, alas! when she shall tear The lines some younger rival sends, She'll give me leave to write I fear, And we shall still continue friends. For as our different ages move, 'Tis so ordained, would fate but mend it! That I shall be past making love When she begins to comprehend it. CXVII. THE AN ODE. HE merchant, to secure his treasure, My softest verse, my darling lyre, That I should sing, that I should play. |