Chapter 357

Wherever God erects a house of prayer, The Devil always builds a chapel there; And 'twill be found upon examination, The latter has the largest congregation.

* * * * *

LOUIS THEOBALD. 1688-1744.

_The Double Falsehood_.

None but himself can be his parallel.

* * * * *

MATTHEW PRIOR. 1664-1721.

_English Padlock_.

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

* * * * *

_Henry and Emma_.

That air and harmony of shape express, Fine by degrees, and beautifully less.

* * * * *

_The Thief and the Cordelier_.

Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart, And often took leave; but was loth to depart.

_Epilogue to Lucius_.

And the gray mare will prove the better horse.[8]

[Note 8: See Hudibras, Part ii. Canto ii. line 698. Mr. Macaulay thinks that this proverb originated in the preference generally given to the gray mares of Flanders over the finest coach-horses of England.--History of England, Vol. I. Ch. 3.]

* * * * *

_Imitations of Horace_.

Of two evils I have chose the least.

* * * * *

_Epitaph on Himself_.

Here lies what once was Matthew Prior; The son of Adam and of Eve: Can Bourbon or Nassau claim higher?

* * * * *

_Ode in Imitation of Horace_. B. iii. Od. 2.

And virtue is her own reward.

* * * * *

COLLEY CIBBER. 1671-1757.

_Richard III_.