Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works in Prose and Verse. The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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| FRAGMENTS FROM PRIOR'S
LETTERS, ETC. |
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 | Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works |  |
364
FRAGMENTS FROM PRIOR'S LETTERS, ETC.
FROM A LETTER TO THE EARL OF DORSET.
Hague 14/4 May, 94.
Spare Dorsett's sacred life, decerning fate,
And death shall march thro' courts and camps in state,
Emptying his quiver on the vulgar great;
Round Dorsett's board lett peace and plenty dance,
Far off lett famine her sad reign advance,
And war walk deep in blood thro' conquered France.
Apollo thus began the mystic strain,
The muses' sons all bow'd and sayd Amen.
ON THE DEATH OF QUEEN MARY.
From the Lexington Papers, 1851. In a Letter from Prior to Lord and Lady Lexington, 1 March, 1695.
‘Written on Scheveling Sands, with the point of my sword.’
Number the sands extended here;So many Mary's virtues were:
Number the drops that yonder roll;
So many griefs press William's soul.
WRITTEN IN THE LIBRARY, [Wimpole] Dec. 2, 1720. M.P.
Fame counting thy books, my dear Harley, shall tell,No man had so many and knew them so well.
| Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works | |