Matthew Prior

“Who breathes must suffer, and who thinks must mourn; And he alone is bless'd who ne'er was born.”

“From ignorance our comfort flows, The only wretched are the wise.”

“Nobles and heralds, by your leave, Here lies what once was Matthew Prior; The son of Adam and of Eve; Can Bourbon or Nassau go higher?”

“They never taste who always drink; They always talk who never think.”

“And when I could not prosper in my way, I cursed the stars; but the fault was in me.”

“For the man who labours and thrives spins gold.”

“Venus, take my votive glass; Since I am not what I was; What from this day I shall be, Venus, let me never see.”

“For hope is but the dream of those that wake.”

“Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.”

“For what are the stars but points in the book of nature where we may read the glory of God.”

“Pain is the parent of pleasure.”

“Abra was ready ere I called her name; And though I called another, Abra came.”

“Be to her virtues very kind; Be to her faults a little blind.”

“That if weak women went astray, Their stars were more in fault than they.”