The same woman who could charm the waiter in a tavern, still maintained her dominion over the embassador at France.  The Chloe of Prior, it seems, was a woman in this station of life; but he never forsook her in the heighth of his reputation.  Hence we may observe, that associations with women are the most lasting of all, and that when an eminent station raises a man above many other acts of condescension, a mistress will maintain her influence, charm away the pride of greatness, and make the hero who fights, and the patriot who speaks, for the liberty of his country, a slave to her.  One would imagine however, that this woman, who was a Butcher’s wife, must either have been very handsome, or have had something about her superior to people of her rank:  but it seems the case was otherwise, and no better reason can be given for Mr. Prior’s attachment to her, but that she was his taste.  Her husband suffered their intrigue to go on unmolested; for he was proud even of such a connexion as this, with so great a man as Prior; a singular instance of good nature.

In the year 1715 Mr. Prior was recalled from France, and upon his arrival was taken up by a warrant from the House of Commons; shortly after which, he underwent a very strict examination by a Committee of the Privy Council.  His political friend, lord Bolingbroke, foreseeing a storm, took shelter in France, and secured Harry, but left poor Matt. in the lurch.

On the 10th of June Robert Walpole, esq; moved the House against him, and on the 17th Mr. Prior was ordered into close custody, and no person was admitted to see him without leave from the Speaker.  For the particulars of this procedure of the Parliament, both against Mr. Prior, and many others concerned in the public transactions of the preceding reign, we refer to the histories of that time.  In the year 1717 an Act of Grace was passed in favour of those who had opposed the Hanoverian succession, as well as those who had been in open rebellion, but Mr. Prior was excepted out of it.  At the close of this year, however, he was discharged from his confinement, and retired to spend the residue of his days at Downhall in Essex.

The severe usage which Mr. Prior met with, perhaps was the occasion of the following beautiful lines, addressed to his Chloe;

  From public noise, and factious strife,
  From all the busy ills of life,
  Take me, my Chloe, to thy breast;
  And lull my wearied soul to rest: 
  For ever, in this humble cell,
  Let thee and I, my fair one, dwell;
  None enter else, but Love——­and he
  Shall bar the door, and keep the key.

    To painted roofs, and shining spires
  (Uneasy feats of high desires)
  Let the unthinking many croud,
  That dare be covetous, and proud;
  In golden bondage let them wait,
  And barter happiness for state: 
  But oh! my Chloe when thy swain
  Desires to see a court again;
  May Heav’n around his destin’d head
  The choicest of his curses shed,
  To sum up all the rage of fate. 
  In the two things I dread, and hate,
  May’st thou be false, and I be great.