| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Matthew Prior. 1664–1721 |
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| 424. Song |
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| THE merchant, to secure his treasure, | |
| Conveys it in a borrow'd name: | |
| Euphelia serves to grace my measure; | |
| But Chloe is my real flame. | |
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| My softest verse, my darling lyre, | 5 |
| Upon Euphelia's toilet lay; | |
| When Chloe noted her desire | |
| That I should sing, that I should play. | |
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| My lyre I tune, my voice I raise; | |
| But with my numbers mix my sighs: | 10 |
| And while I sing Euphelia's praise, | |
| I fix my soul on Chloe's eyes. | |
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| Fair Chloe blush'd: Euphelia frown'd: | |
| I sung, and gazed: I play'd, and trembled: | |
| And Venus to the Loves around | 15 |
| Remark'd, how ill we all dissembled. | |
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