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 CHILD of QUALITY,
FIVE YEARS OLD,
The AUTHOR Forty. |
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 | Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works |  |
85
TO A CHILD of QUALITY, FIVE YEARS OLD, The AUTHOR Forty.
Written in 1704.
I
Lords, knights, and squires, the num'rous band,That wear the fair miss Mary's fetters,
Were summon'd by her high command,
To show their passions by their letters.
II
My pen amongst the rest I took,Lest those bright eyes that cannot read
Shou'd dart their kindling fires, and look,
The power they have to be obey'd.
III
Nor quality, nor reputation,Forbid me yet my flame to tell,
Dear five years old befriends my passion,
And I may write till she can spell.
IV
For while she makes her silk-worms beds,With all the tender things I swear,
Whilst all the house my passion reads,
In papers round her baby's hair.
V
She may receive and own my flame,For tho' the strictest prudes shou'd know it,
She'll pass for a most virtuous dame,
And I for an unhappy poet.
86
VI
Then too alas! when she shall tearThe lines some younger rival sends,
She'll give me leave to write I fear,
And we shall still continue friends.
VII
For as our diff'rent ages move,'Tis so ordain'd, wou'd fate but mend it,
That I shall be past making love
When she begins to comprehend it.
| Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works | |