Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN ENGLISH PADLOCK, by MATTHEW PRIOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN ENGLISH PADLOCK, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Miss danae, when fair and young
Last Line: And clap your padlock -- on her mind.
Subject(s): Cupid; Goddesses & Gods; Love; Mythology; Youth; Eros


Miss Danae, when fair and young
(As Horace has divinely sung)
Could not be kept from Jove's embrace
By doors of steel and walls of brass.
The reason of the thing is clear,
Would Jove the naked truth aver:
Cupid was with him of the party,
And showed himself sincere and hearty;
For, give that whipster but his errand,
He takes my Lord Chief Justice' warrant;
Dauntless as Death away he walks;
Breaks the doors open; snaps the locks;
Searches the parlour, chamber, study;
Nor stops, till he has Culprit's body.
Since this has been authentic truth,
By Age delivered down to Youth,
Tell us, mistaken husband, tell us,
Why so mysterious, why so jealous?
Does the restraint, the bolt, the bar
Make us less curious, her less fair?
The spy which does this treasure keep,
Does she ne'er say her prayers, nor sleep?
Does she to no excess incline?
Does she fly music, mirth, and wine?
Or have not gold and flattery power
To purchase one unguarded hour?
Your care does further yet extend:
That spy is guarded by your friend. --
But has this friend nor eye, nor heart?
May he not feel the cruel dart
Which, soon or late, all mortals feel?
May he not, with too tender zeal,
Give the fair prisoner cause to see
How much he wishes she were free?
May he not craftily infer
The rules of friendship too severe,
Which chain him to a hated trust?
Which make him wretched, to be just?
And may not she, this darling she,
Youthful and healthy, flesh and blood,
Easy with him, ill-used by thee,
Allow this logic to be good?
"Sir, will your questions never end?
I trust to neither spy nor friend.
In short, I keep her from the sight
Of every human face." -- "She'll write." --
"From pen and paper she's debarred. --"
"Has she a bodkin and a card?
She'll prick her mind." -- "She will, you say:
But how shall she that mind convey?
I keep her in one room: I lock it:
The key (look here) is in this pocket."
"The key-hole, is that left?" -- "Most certain."
"She'll thrust her letter through -- Sir Martin."
"Dear angry friend, what must be done?
Is there no way?" -- There is but one.
Send her abroad; and let her see,
That all this mingled mass, which she
Being forbidden longs to know,
Is a dull farce, an empty show,
Powder, and pocket-glass, and beau;
A staple of romance and lies,
False tears, and real perjuries:
Where sighs and looks are bought and sold;
And love is made but to be told:
Where the fat bawd and lavish heir
The spoils of ruined beauty share;
And youth seduced from friends and fame,
Must give up age to want and shame.
Let her behold the frantic scene,
The women wretched, false the men:
And when, these certain ills to shun,
She would to thy embraces run,
Receive her with extended arms;
Seem more delighted with her charms;
Wait on her to the park and play;
Put on good humour; make her gay;
Be to her virtues very kind;
Be to her faults a little blind;
Let all her ways be unconfined,
And clap your padlock -- on her mind.





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