Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. III. The Eighteenth Century: Addison to Blake
Matthew Prior (16641721)An Ode: The merchant, to secure his treasure
T
Conveys it in a borrowed name:
Euphelia serves to grace my measure;
But Chloe is my real flame.
Upon Euphelia’s toilet lay;
When Chloe noted her desire,
That I should sing, that I should play.
But with my numbers mix my sighs:
And whilst I sing Euphelia’s praise,
I fix my soul on Chloe’s eyes.
I sung and gazed: I played and trembled:
And Venus to the Loves around
Remarked, how ill we all dissembled.