Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE INCURABLE, by MATTHEW PRIOR Poet's Biography First Line: Phillis, you boast of perfect health in vain Last Line: I tell thee, 'tis incurable -- 'tis age. Subject(s): Aging; Disease; Laughter | ||||||||
PHILLIS, you boast of perfect health in vain, And laugh at those who of their ills complain; That with a frequent fever Chloe burns, And Stella's plumpness into dropsy turns! O Phillis, while the patients are nineteen, Little, alas! are their distempers seen. But thou, for all thy seeming health, art ill, Beyond thy lover's hopes, or Blackmore's skill; No lenitives can thy disease assuage, I tell thee, 'tis incurable -- 'tis age. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BUCOLIC COMEDY: THE FOX; FOR ANN PEARN by EDITH SITWELL THE GREAT CAROUSAL by LOUIS UNTERMEYER THE ORIGIN OF LAUGHTER by JOHN UPDIKE LAUGHING SONG, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE HER MERRIMENT by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES SONG OF THREE SMILES by WILLIAM STANLEY MERWIN MANDRAKE'S SONG; FRAGMENT by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE LAUGHING WOMAN by WILLIAM ROSE BENET A BETTER ANSWER (TO CHLOE JEALOUS) by MATTHEW PRIOR A DUTCH PROVERB by MATTHEW PRIOR A LETTER TO LADY [MISS] MARGARET-CAVANDISH-HOLLES-HARLEY, WHEN A CHILD by MATTHEW PRIOR |
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