Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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Written in Montaigne's Essays,
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 | Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions |  |
207
Written in Montaigne's Essays,
Given to the Duke of Shrewsbury in France, after the Peace, 1713.
Dictate, O mighty Judge, what Thou hast seen
Of Cities, and of Courts, of Books, and Men;
And deign to let Thy Servant hold the Pen.
Of Cities, and of Courts, of Books, and Men;
And deign to let Thy Servant hold the Pen.
Thro' Ages thus I may presume to live;
And from the Transcript of Thy Prose receive,
What my own short-liv'd Verse can never give.
And from the Transcript of Thy Prose receive,
What my own short-liv'd Verse can never give.
Thus shall fair Britain with a gracious Smile
Accept the Work; and the instructed Isle,
For more than Treaties made, shall bless my Toil.
Accept the Work; and the instructed Isle,
For more than Treaties made, shall bless my Toil.
Nor longer hence the Gallic Style preferr'd,
Wisdom in English Idiom shall be heard;
While Talbot tells the World, where Montaigne err'd.
Wisdom in English Idiom shall be heard;
While Talbot tells the World, where Montaigne err'd.
| Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions | |