AN ENGLISH PADLOCK. Matthew Prior Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T075639 Prior, Matthew, 1664-1721. Poems on Several Occasions [English poems only]. London Printed for JACOB TONSON at Shakespear's-Head over against Katharine-Street in the Strand, and JOHN BARBER upon Lambeth-Hill. MDCCXVIII. 1718 pp. 102-104. [42],506,[6]p.: ill.; 2°.

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AN ENGLISH PADLOCK . Miss Danae , when Fair and Young ( As Horace has divinely sung ) Could not be kept from Jove's Embrace By Doors of Steel , and Walls of Brass . The Reason of the Thing is clear ; Would Jove the naked Truth aver : Cupid was with Him of the Party ; And show'd himself sincere and hearty : For , give That Whipster but his Errand ; He takes my Lord Chief Justice' Warrant : Dauntless as Death away He walks ; Breaks the Doors open ; snaps the Locks ; Searches the Parlour , Chamber , Study ; Nor stops , 'till He has Culprit's Body . Since This has been Authentick Truth , By Age deliver'd down to Youth ; Tell us , mistaken Husband , tell us , Why so Mysterious , why so Jealous ? Does the Restraint , the Bolt , the Bar Make Us less Curious , Her less Fair ? The Spy , which does this Treasure keep , Does She ne'er say her Pray'rs , nor sleep ? Does She to no Excess incline ? Does She fly Musick , Mirth , and Wine ? Or have not Gold and Flatt'ry Pow'r , To purchase One unguarded Hour ? Your Care does further yet extend : That Spy is guarded by your Friend . — But has This Friend nor Eye , nor Heart ? May He not feel the cruel Dart , Which , soon or late , all Mortals feel ? May He not , with too tender Zeal , Give the Fair Pris'ner Cause to see , How much He wishes , She were free ? May He not craftily infer The Rules of Friendship too severe , Which chain Him to a hated Trust ; Which make Him Wretched , to be Just ? And may not She , this Darling She , Youthful and healthy , Flesh and Blood , Easie with Him , ill-us'd by Thee , Allow this Logic to be good ? Sir , Will your Questions never end ? I trust to neither Spy nor Friend . In short , I keep Her from the Sight Of ev'ry Human Face . — She'll write . — From Pen and Paper She's debarr'd . — Has She a Bodkin and a Card ? She'll prick her Mind . — She will , You say : But how shall She That Mind convey ? I keep Her in one Room : I lock it : The Key ( look here ) is in this Pocket . The Key-hole , is That left ? Most certain . She'll thrust her Letter thro' — Sir Martin . Dear angry Friend , what must be done ? Is there no Way ? — There is but One , Send Her abroad ; and let Her see , That all this mingled Mass , which She Being forbidden longs to know , Is a dull Farce , an empty Show , Powder , and Pocket-Glass , and Beau ; A Staple of Romance and Lies , False Tears , and real Perjuries : Where Sighs and Looks are bought and sold ; And Love is made but to be told : Where the fat Bawd , and lavish Heir The Spoils of ruin'd Beauty share : And Youth seduc'd from Friends and Fame , Must give up Age to Want and Shame . Let Her behold the Frantick Scene , The Women wretched , false the Men : And when , these certain Ills to shun , She would to Thy Embraces run ; Receive Her with extended Arms : Seem more delighted with her Charms : Wait on Her to the Park and Play : Put on good Humour ; make Her gay : Be to her Virtues very kind : Be to her Faults a little blind : Let all her Ways be unconfin'd : And clap your Padlock — on her Mind .