PRIOR, GAY AND POPE.
167
"Such as she is who died to day,
Such I, alas, may be to-morrow:
Go, Damon, bid the Muse display
The justice of thy Cloe's sorrow."
Such I, alas, may be to-morrow:
Go, Damon, bid the Muse display
The justice of thy Cloe's sorrow."
Damon's knell was rung in 1721. May his turf lie lightly on him! Deus sit propitius huic potatori as Walter de Mapes sang.[1] Perhaps Samuel Johnson, who spoke
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PRIOR TO SIR THOMAS HANMER,
"Aug. 4, 1709."Dear Sir,
"Friendship may live, I grant you, without being fed and cherished by correspondence; but with that additional benefit I am of opinion it will look more cheerful and thrive better: for in this case, as in love, though a man is sure of his own constancy, yet his happiness depends a good deal upon the sentiments of another, and while you and Chloe are alive, 'tis not enough that I love you both except I am sure you both love me again; and as one of her scrawls fortifies my mind more against affliction then all Epictetus, with Simplicius's comments into the bargain, so your single letter gave me more real pleasure than all the works of Plato. . . . . . I must return my answer to your very kind question concerning my health. The Bath waters have done a good deal towards the recovery of it, and the great specific, Cape Cuballum, will, I think, confirm it. Upon this head I must tell you that my mare Betty grows blind, and may one day, by breaking my neck, perfect my cure: if at Rixham fair any pretty nagg that is between thirteen and fourteen hands presented himself, and you would be pleased to purchase him for me, one of your servants might ride him to Euston, and I might receive him there. This, sir, is just as such a thing happens. If you hear, too, of a Welch widow, with a good joincture, that has her goings and is not very skittish, pray be pleased to cast your eye on her for me, too. You see, sir, the great trust I repose in your skill and honour, when I dare put two such commissions in your hand. . . . . . ."—The Hanmer Correspondence, p. 120.FROM MR. PRIOR.
Paris, 1st—12th May, 1714."My Dear Lord and Friend,
"Matthew never had so great occasion to write a word to Henry
