with cords so fast that it takes him up the same time in the morning
to release himself."

108 Gay calls him--"Dear Prior ... beloved by every muse".--_Mr. Pope's
Welcome from Greece._

Swift and Prior were very intimate, and he is frequently mentioned
in the _Journal to Stella_. "Mr. Prior," says Swift, "walks to make
himself fat, and I to keep myself down.... We often walk round the
park together."

In Swift's works there is a curious tract called _Remarks on the
Characters of the Court of Queen Anne_ [Scott's edition, vol. xii].
The _Remarks_ are not by the Dean: but at the end of each is an
addition in italics from his hand, and these are always
characteristic. Thus, to the Duke of Marlborough, he adds,
"_Detestably Covetous_," &c. Prior is thus noticed--

"MATTHEW PRIOR, ESQ., Commissioner of Trade.

"On the Queen's accession to the throne, he was continued in his
office; is very well at Court with the ministry, and is an entire
creature of my Lord Jersey's, whom he supports by his advice; is one
of the best poets in England, but very facetious in conversation. A
thin, hollow-looked man, turned of 40 years old. _This is near the
truth._"

Yet counting as far as to fifty his years,
His virtues and vices were as other men's are,
High hopes he conceived and he smothered great fears,
In a life party-coloured--half pleasure, half care.

Not to business a drudge, nor to faction a slave,
He strove to make interest and freedom agree,
In public employments industrious and grave,
And alone with his friends, Lord, how merry was he!

Now in equipage stately, now humbly on foot,
Both fortunes he tried, but to neither would trust;
And whirled in the round as the wheel turned about,
He found riches had wings, and knew man was but dust.

PRIOR'S _Poems_. ["For my own monument."]

109 "They joined to produce a parody, entitled _The Town and Country
Mouse_, part of which Mr. Bayes is supposed to gratify his old
friends Smart and Johnson, by repeating to them. The piece is
therefore founded upon the twice-told jest of the _Rehearsal_....
There is nothing new or original in the idea.... In this piece,
Prior, though the younger man, seems to have had by far the largest
share."--SCOTT'S _D