The voices / 45 fragments

Matthew Prior

1664 AD — 1721 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

Author and source reference ↗

▷ Play this voice Search within this voice ↗Place in time ↗wisdom life truth mind nature peace learning love

Historical source references

I am that I am
To the Hon
A Better Answer
An English Padlock
Hans Carvel
Paulo Purganti
Upon a passage in the Scaligerana
Henry and Emma
The Thief and the Cordelier
Epitaph
Charity
Alma
Solomon on the Vanity of the World
The Wandering Pilgrim
Printed citation: Prior
Number 1457 · printed citation: Prior
Page 97 · printed citation: Prior · subject: CALAMITY
Page 107 · printed citation: Prior · subject: CHARITY
Page 165 · printed citation: Prior · subject: DAY
Page 172 · printed citation: Prior · subject: DEATH
Page 290 · printed citation: Prior · subject: HEAVEN—HEAVENS
Page 317 · printed citation: Prior · subject: IMAGE
Page 389 · printed citation: Prior · subject: MINISTRY
Page 416 · printed citation: Prior · subject: NATURE
Page 173 · printed citation: Prior · subject: Mind
Page 256 · printed citation: Prior · subject: Talking

Archive entries

01c. 1692 AD

All jargon of the schools.

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02c. 1692 AD

Our hopes, like towering falcons, aim At objects in an airy height; The little pleasure of the game Is from afar to view the flight.

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03c. 1692 AD

From ignorance our comfort flows. The only wretched are the wise.

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04c. 1692 AD

Odds life! must one swear to the truth of a song?

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05c. 1692 AD

Be to her virtues very kind; Be to her faults a little blind.

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06c. 1692 AD

That if weak women went astray, Their stars were more in fault than they.

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07c. 1692 AD

The end must justify the means.

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08c. 1692 AD

And thought the nation ne'er would thrive Till all the whores were burnt alive.

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09c. 1692 AD

They never taste who always drink; They always talk who never think.

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10c. 1692 AD

That air and harmony of shape express, Fine by degrees, and beautifully less.

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11c. 1692 AD

Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart, And often took leave, but was loth to depart.

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12c. 1692 AD

Nobles and heralds, by your leave, Here lies what once was Matthew Prior; The son of Adam and of Eve: Can Bourbon or Nassau claim higher?

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13c. 1692 AD

Soft peace she brings; wherever she arrives She builds our quiet as she forms our lives; Lays the rough paths of peevish Nature even, And opens in each heart a little heaven.

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14c. 1692 AD

His noble negligences teach What others' toils despair to reach.

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15c. 1692 AD

Till their own dreams at length deceive 'em, And oft repeating, they believe 'em.

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16c. 1692 AD

Abra was ready ere I called her name; And though I called another, Abra came.

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17c. 1692 AD

For hope is but the dream of those that wake.

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18c. 1692 AD

Who breathes must suffer, and who thinks must mourn; And he alone is bless'd who ne'er was born.

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19c. 1692 AD

A Rechabite poor Will must live, And drink of Adam's ale.

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20Undated

Circles to square, and cubes to double, / Would give a man excessive trouble.

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21Undated

Fantastic tyrant of the amorous heart, / How hard thy yoke! how cruel is thy dart! / Those 'scape thy anger who refuse thy sway, / And those are punished most who most obey.

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22Undated

Let him be kept from paper, pen, and ink; / So may he cease to write, and learn to think.

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23Undated

She should be humble who would please, / And she must suffer who can love.

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24Undated

Thy sum of duty let two words contain; / Be humble and be just.

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Matthew Prior

Archive entries

Read further

Meditations

Tao Te Ching

The Prophet