Erle ROBERT's MICE. In Chaucer's Stile. 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. 287-289. [42],506,[6]p.: ill.; 2°.

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Erle ROBERT's MICE . In Chaucer's Stile . Tway Mice , full Blythe and Amicable , Batten beside Erle Robert's Table . Lies there ne Trap their Necks to catch , Ne old black Cat their Steps to watch . Their Fill they eat of Fowl and Fish ; Feast-lyche as Heart of Mouse mote wish . As Guests sat Jovial at the Board , Forth leap'd our Mice : Eftsoons the Lord Of Boling , whilome John the Saint , Who maketh oft Propos full queint , Laugh'd jocund , and aloud He cry'd , To Matthew seated on t'oth' side ; To Thee , lean Bard , it doth partain To understand these Creatures Tweine . Come frame Us now some clean Device , Or playsant Rhime on yonder Mice : They seem , God shield Me , Mat. and Charles . Bad as Sir Topaz , or 'Squire Quarles ( Matthew did for the nonce reply ) At Emblem , or Device am I : But could I Chaunt , or Rhyme , pardie , Clear as Dan Chaucer , or as Thee ; Ne Verse from Me ( so God me shrive ) On Mouse , or other Beast alive . Certes , I have these many Days Sent myne Poetic Herd to graze . Ne Armed Knight ydrad in War With Lyon fierce will I compare : Ne Judge unjust , with furred Fox , Harming in Secret Guise the Flocks : Ne Priest unworth of Goddess Coat , To Swine ydrunk , or filthy Stoat . Elk Similè farwell for aye , From Elephant , I trow , to Flea . Reply'd the friendlike Peer , I weene , Matthew is angred on the Spleen . Ne so , quoth Mat. ne shall be e'er , With Wit that falleth all so fair : Eftsoons , well weet Ye , mine Intent Boweth to your Commaundement . If by these Creatures Ye have seen , Pourtrayed Charles and Matthew been ; Behoveth neet to wreck my Brain , The rest in Order to explain . That Cup-board , where the Mice disport , I liken to St. Exchequer . Stephen's Court : Therein is Space enough , I trow , For elke Comrade to come and goe : And therein eke may Both be fed With Shiver of the Wheaten Bread . And when , as these mine Eyen survey , They cease to skip , and squeak , and play ; Return they may to different Cells , Auditing One , whilst t'other Tells . Dear Robert , quoth the Saint , whose Mind In Bounteous Deed no Mean can bind ; Now as I hope to grow devout , I deem this Matter well made out . Laugh I , whilst thus I serious Pray ? Let that be wrought which Mat. doth say : Yea , quoth the ERLE ; but not to Day .