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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN ODE (1) by MATTHEW PRIOR

First Line: THE MERCHANT, TO SECURE HIS TREASURE, / CONVEYS IT IN A BORROWED NAME
Last Line: REMARKED HOW ILL WE ALL DISSEMBLED.
Subject(s): FLIRTATION; LOVE;
The merchant, to secure his treasure,
Conveys it in a borrowed name;
Euphelia serves to grace my measure,
But Cloe is my real flame.

My softest verse, my darling lyre,
Upon Euphelia'''s toilet lay;
When Cloe noted her desire
That I should sing, that I should play.

My lyre I tune, my voice I raise,
But with my numbers mix my sighs;
And whilst I sing Euphelia'''s praise,
I fix my soul on Cloe'''s eyes.

Fair Cloe blushed; Euphelia frowned;
I sung and gazed; I played and trembled;
And Venus to the Loves around
Remarked how ill we all dissembled.



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