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Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works

in Prose and Verse. The Text Edited by A. R. Waller

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To a Painter (fragments).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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To a Painter (fragments).

In foreign Lands my Poetry stands dumb
Thy Pictures speak and Act where e'er they Come.
But narrow bounds the English Muse can boast
Confin'd and fetter'd to her Native Coast.
On foreign Shoars she sullen stands & Dumb
Larger her Sisters pace [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] at Paris and at Rome
She speaks the Tongue and always is at home.
The pride of Babel that confin'd our Tongue
To narrow bounds confines the Poets Song
The Painters meaning thrô the Earth may fly
For Babels Curse affected not the Eye.
Unequal is our Labour & our fame
Whilst Men talk different but they see the same.
But Thou may'st go to Athens or to Rome
And in each Region think Thyself at Home.
Shou'd adverse Fortune banish Me or Pope
What cou'd our Pens from France or Holland hope?
With cruel je n'entens pas we shou'd meet,
Or soft veracht et ik verstaen ye neet.