Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO A PERSON WHO WROTE ILL, by MATTHEW PRIOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO A PERSON WHO WROTE ILL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lie, philo, untouched on my peaceable shelf
Last Line: So may he cease to write, and learn to think.
Subject(s): Envy; Love; Poetry & Poets; Writing & Writers


LIE, Philo, untouched on my peaceable shelf;
Nor take it amiss, that so little I heed thee:
I've no envy to thee, and some love to myself:
Then why should I answer, since first I must read thee?

Drunk with Helicon's waters and double brewed bub,
Be a linguist, a poet, a critic, a wag;
To the solid delight of thy well-judging club;
To the damage alone of thy bookseller Brag.

Pursue me with satire: what harm is there in 't?
But from all viva voce reflection forbear;
There can be no danger from what thou shalt print:
There may be a little from what thou mayest swear.

ON THE SAME PERSON.

WHILE, faster than his costive brain indites,
Philo's quick hand in flowing letters writes;
His case appears to me like honest Teague's,
When he was run away with, by his legs.
Phoebus, give Philo o'er himself command;
Quicken his senses, or restrain his hand;
Let him be kept from paper, pen, and ink:
So may he cease to write, and learn to think.





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