Earl of Dorset, who sent him to Cambridge. He obtained a fellowship at St John's College, and became so well known as a man of talent, that, in 1691, he was appointed secretary to the ambassador at the Hague, and in the same capacity was engaged in the negotiations previous to the peace of Ryswick in 1697, and afterwards at the court of Versailles. On returning from France, he was first made under-secretary of state, and soon afterwards commissioner of trade. Prior was employed in the memorable treaty of Utrecht, at the instigation of Queen Anne's Tory ministry. The writings of Prior are remarkable for ease, fluency, and correctness. Of the cold French school he is one of the most successful disciples. His works are embodied in the best editions of the British Poets, and his remains repose in Westminster Abbey. A complete elucidation of his character as a poet may be found in his cold, artificial version of the beautiful old ballad of "The Nutbrown Maid." AN EPITAPH. INTERR'D beneath this marble stone They walk'd, and eat, good folks: what then? Nor sister either had nor brother; Most perfectly they made agree: They paid the church and parish rate, No man's defects sought they to know: No man's good deeds did they commend; They neither added nor confounded; Nor tear nor smile did they employ When bells were rung and bonfires made, Nor good, nor bad, nor fools, nor wise; Nor wish'd, nor cared, nor laugh'd, nor cried : THE FEMALE PHAETON. THUS Kitty,(a) beautiful and young, Inflamed with rage at sad restraint, "Shall I thumb holy books, confined 66 (a) Prior's Kitty" afterwards became the Dutchess of Queensberry, the eccentric patroness of the poet Gay. "Must Lady Jenny frisk about, At balls must she make all the rout, "What has she better, pray, than I, "Dearest mamma! for once let me, "I'll soon with Jenny's pride quit score, They'll grieve I was not loosed before ; Fondness prevail'd, mamma gave way; CHARLES COTTON. BORN DEC. 1630-DIED 1687. COTTON is best known as the disciple and enthusiastic admirer of Isaac Walton. In his burlesque verses, a light and happy vein is occasionally displayed. Cotton, who must not be confounded with his excellent namesake, Dr Cotton, was a Derbyshire cavalier, and having, like too many of his contemporaries, embarrassed his estate by imprudence and extravagance, ended his days in the Sanctuary of Westminster. THE WELSH GUIDE. FROM THE VOYAGE TO IRELAND. BUT up I soon start, and was dress'd in a trice, And call'd for a draught of ale, sugar, and spice; Which having turn'd off, I then call to pay, And packing my nawls, whipp'd to horse, and away. A guide I had got, who demanded great vails, And yet for all that, rode astride on a beast, His hips and his rump made a right ace of spades; His sides were two ladders, well spur-gall'd withal; His neck was a helve, and his head was a mall; For his colour, my pains and your trouble I'll spare, For the creature was wholly denuded of hair ; And, except for two things, as bare as my nail, A tuft of a mane, and a sprig of a tail; And by these the true colour one can no more know, Than by mouse-skins above stairs, the merkin below. |