Written at Paris, 1700. In the Beginning of ROBE's GEOGRAPHY. 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. 124-126. [42],506,[6]p.: ill.; 2°.

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Written at Paris , 1700. In the Beginning of ROBE's GEOGRAPHY . Of All that William Rules , or Robe Describes , Great Rhea , of Thy Globe ; When or on Post-Horse , or in Chaise , With much Expence , and little Ease , My destin'd 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 Fav'rite Undertakers To throw Me in but Twenty Acres : This Number sure They may allow ; For Pasture Ten , and Ten for Plow : 'Tis all that I wou'd Wish , or Hope , For Me , and John , and Nell , and Crop . Then , as Thou wil't , 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 Vot'ry truly blest , Let curst Revenge , and sawcy Pride To some bleak Rock far off be ty'd ; 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 , and Field , and Grove : Peace cannot dwell with Hate or Love . Hear , gracious Rhea , what I say : And Thy Petitioner shall Pray .