worth conversing with, except Harley and Bathurst?
at least, make no more that sort of complaint to me.
Isthæc commemoratio est quasi exprobratio; for
fifty (as Mr Locke observes) is equal to fifty; and a
cough is worse than the spleen. My bookseller is
a blockhead; so have they all been, or worse, from
Chaucer's scrivener,* down to John and Jacob;†
Mr Hyde only excepted, to whom my books in
quires are consigned, and the greatest care taken that
they are rightly put up. Several of the subscribers
to you, requiring their books here, have had them.
I need not repeat my thanks to you, for the trouble
this matter has given you; or entreat your favour for
Alma and Solomon. I shall perform your commands
to the Earl of Oxford, semper idem; and drink your
health with our friends, which is all I can do for you
at this distance, till your particular order enjoins me
any thing, by which I
may show you, that I am, and
desire always to continue, with the greatest truth
and regard, Sir,

Your most obedient and most humble servant,
M. PRIOR.

TO THE BISHOP OF MEATH. ‡

May 22, 1719.

I HAD an express sent to me yesterday by some friends, to let me know that you refused to accept

"Adam Scrivener," on whom, for his carelessness, the ancient bard imprecates a heavy curse.

+ John Barber and Jacob Tonson,

John Evans was translated from the see of Bangor to that of Meath in 1715. From the date of his translation, as well as his disputes with our author, we may conjecture, with probability, that he was a keen whig.

my proxy, which I think was in a legal form, and with all the circumstances it ought to have. I was likewise informed of some other particulars, relating to your displeasure for my not appearing. You may remember, if you please, that I promised last year never to appear again at your visitations; and I will most certainly keep my word, if the law will permit me: not from any contempt of your lordship's jurisdictions, but that I would not put you under the temptation of giving me injurious treatment, which no wise man, if he can avoid it, will receive above once from the same person.

I had the less apprehension of any hard dealing from your lordship, because I had been more than ordinary officious in my respects to you from your first coming over. I waited on you as soon as I knew of your landing. I attended on you in your first journey to Trim: I lent you a useful book relating to your diocese; and repeated my visits, till I saw you never intended to return them. And I could have no design to serve myself, having nothing to hope or fear from you. I cannot help it, if I am called of a different party from your lordship: but that circumstance is of no consequence with me, who respect good men of all parties alike.

I have already nominated a person to be my curate, and did humbly recommend him to your lordship to be ordained, which must be done by some other bishop, since you were pleased (as I am told) to refuse it: and I am apt to think you will be of opinion, that when I have a lawful curate, I shall not be under the necessity of a personal appearance, from which I hold myself excused by another station. If I shall prove to be mistaken, I declare my appearance will be extremely against my inclinations. However, I hope that in such a

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case your lordship will please to remember in the midst of your resentments that you are to speak to a clergyman, and not to a footman.

I am your lordship's most obedient,

humble servant,

FROM MR PRIOR.

JON. SWIFT.

Westminster, Dec. 8, 1719.

SIR,

HAVING spent part of my summer very agreeably in Cambridgeshire with dear Lord Harley, I am returned without him to my own palace in Duke Street, whence I endeavour to exclude all the tumult and noise of the neighbouring court of requests, and to live aut nihil agendo aut aliud agendo, till he comes to town. But there is worse than this yet, I have treated Lady Harriot * at Cambridge (good God! a fellow of a college treat!) and spoke verses to her † in a gown and cap! What! the

* Lady Harriot Harley, only daughter of Edward, Lord Harley; afterward Duchess of Portland.-B.

+ These verses' here follow, as they do not occur in the com. mon editions of Prior's works.

Verses spoken to Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles Harley, Countess of Oxford, in the library of St John's College, Cambridge, November 9, 1719.

MADAM,

SINCE Anna visited the muses' seat,

(Around her tomb, let weeping angels wait!)
Hail thou the brightest of thy sex, and best,
Most gracious neighbour,* and most welcome guest.

* The family seat was then at Wimple.

plenipotentiary so far concerned in the damned peace at Utrecht; the man, that makes up half the volume of terse prose, that makes up the report of the committee, speaking verses! Sic est, homo sum; and am not ashamed to send those very verses to one, who can make much better. And now let

me ask you, How you do? and what you do? How your Irish country air agrees with you, and when you intend to take any English country air? In the spring I will meet you where you will, and go with you where you will; but I believe the best rendezvous will be Duke Street, and the fairest field for action Wimple; * the lords of both those seats agreeing, that no man shall be more welcome to either than yourself.

Not Harley's self, to Cam and Isis dear,
In virtues and in arts great Oxford's heir;
Not he such present honour shall receive,
As to his consort we aspire to give.

Writings of men our thoughts to-day neglects,
To pay due homage to the softer sex:

Plato and Tully we forbear to read,

And their great followers whom this house has bred,
To study lessons from thy morals given,

And shining characters impress'd by Heaven,
Science, in books, no longer we pursue,
Minerva's self, in Harriet's face we view;
For when with beauty, we can virtue join,
We paint the semblance of a form divine.

Their pious incense let our neighbours bring,
To the kind memory of some bounteous king;
With grateful hand, due altars let them raise,
To some good knight's,† or holy prelate's praise,
We tune our voices to another theme,
Your eyes we bless, your praises we proclaim;
Saint John's was founded in a woman's name.
Enjoin'd by statute, to the fair we bow;

In spite of time, we keep our ancient vow;

What Margaret Tudor was, is Harriet Harley now.

Sir Thomas White, founder of St John's College, Oxon.
Archbishop Laud also was a generous benefactor.

*The seat of Lord Harley.-H.

:

It is many months since the complaints of my subscribers are redressed, and that they have ceased to call the bookseller a blockhead, by transferring that title to the author. We have not heard from Mr Hyde; but expect that at his leisure he will signify to Tonson what may relate to that whole matter, as to the second subscriptions. In the mean time, I hope the books have been delivered without any mistake and shall only repeat to you, that I am sensible of the trouble my poetry has given you, and return you my thanks in plain prose. Earl of Oxford, pro more suo, went late into the country, and continues there stil!. Our friends are all well; so am I, nisi cum pituita molesta est; which is at this present writing, and will continue so all the winter. So, with weak lungs, and a very good heart, I remain always, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

M. PRIOR.

Service to Matthew Pennyfeather and all friends. Adieu.

TO LORD BOLINGBROKE.

MY LORD,

December 19, 1719.

I FIRST Congratulate with you upon growing rich: for I hope our friend's information is true, Omne solum diti patria. Euripides makes the queen Jocasta ask her exiled son, how he got his victuals? But who ever expected to see you a trader or dealer in stocks? I thought to have seen you where you

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