Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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To the Honorable
CHARLES MONTAGUE, Esq |
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 | Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions |  |
To the Honorable CHARLES MONTAGUE, Esq
I
Howe'er 'tis well, that while MankindThro' Fate's perverse Mæander errs,
He can imagin'd Pleasures find,
To combat against real Cares.
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II
Fancies and Notions He pursues,Which ne'er had Being but in Thought:
Each, like the Græcian Artist, woo's
The Image He himself has wrought.
III
Against Experience He believes:He argues against Demonstration,
Pleas'd, when his Reason He deceives;
And sets his Judgment by his Passion.
IV
The hoary Fool, who many DaysHas struggl'd with continu'd Sorrow,
Renews his Hope, and blindly lays
The desp'rate Bett upon To-morrow.
V
To-morrow comes: 'tis Noon: 'tis Night:This Day like all the former flies:
Yet on He runs to seek Delight
To-morrow, 'till To-night He dies.
VI
Our Hopes, like tow'ring Falcons, aimAt Objects in an airy height:
The little Pleasure of the Game
Is from afar to view the Flight.
VII
Our anxious Pains We, all the Day,In search of what We like, employ:
Scorning at Night the worthless Prey,
We find the Labour gave the Joy.
VIII
At Distance thro' an artful GlassTo the Mind's Eye Things well appear:
They lose their Forms, and make a Mass
Confus'd and black, if brought too near.
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IX
If We see right, We see our Woes:Then what avails it to have Eyes?
From Ignorance our Comfort flows:
The only Wretched are the Wise.
X
We wearied should lie down in Death:This Cheat of Life would take no more;
If You thought Fame but empty Breath;
I, Phyllis but a perjur'd Whore.
| Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions | |