Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WRITTEN AT PARIS. MDCC, by MATTHEW PRIOR


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WRITTEN AT PARIS. MDCC, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of all that william rules, or robe
Last Line: And thy petitioner shall pray.
Subject(s): Death; Gardens & Gardening; Life; Paris, France; Dead, The


OF all that William rules, or Robe
Describes, great Rhea, of thy globe,
When or on post-horse, or in chaise,
With much expense, and little ease,
My destined miles I shall have gone,
By Thames or Maese, by Po or Rhone,
And found no foot of earth my own;
Great Mother, let me once be able
To have a garden, house, and stable;
That I may read, and ride, and plant,
Superior to desire, or want;
And as health fails, and years increase,
Sit down, and think, and die in peace.
Oblige thy favourite undertakers
To throw me in but twenty acres;
This number sure they may allow;
For pasture ten, and ten for plough:
'Tis all that I would wish, or hope,
For me and John, and Nell, and Crop.
Then, as thou wilt, dispose the rest,
And let not fortune spoil the jest,
To those, who at the market-rate
Can barter honour for estate.
Now if thou grant'st me my request,
To make thy votary truly blessed,
Let cursed revenge, and saucy pride
To some bleak rock far off be tied;
Nor e'er approach my rural seat,
To tempt me to be base and great.
And, Goddess, this kind office done,
Charge Venus to command her son
(Where-ever else she lets him rove),
To shun my house, my field, my grove:
Peace cannot dwell with hate or love.
Hear, gracious Rhea, what I say:
And thy petitioner shall pray.





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