TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH 1648. OF TIME GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may, And this same flower that smiles to-day The glorious lamp of Heaven, the sun, The higher he's a getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he 's to setting. The age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; Then be not coy, but use your time, 8 12 16 A SWEET disorder in the dress' An erring lace, which here and there A cuff neglectful, and thereby A winning wave, deserving note, A careless shoestring, in whose tie Do more bewitch me than when art 1648. Robert Herrick. 1 ΓΙ Σ TO ANTHEA; WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANYTHING BID me to live, and I will live Or bid me love, and I will give A heart as soft, a heart as kind, A heart as sound and free As in the whole world thou canst find, That heart I'll give to thee. Bid that heart stay, and it will stay To honour thy decree: Or bid it languish quite away, And 't shall do so for thee. 8 12 1648. Bid me to weep, and I will weep While I have eyes to see: Bid me despair, and I'll despair Thou art my life, my love, my heart, And hast command of every part 16 20 24 Robert Herrick. TO DAISIES, NOT TO SHUT 1648. SO SOON SHUT not so soon; the dull-eyed night Has not as yet begun To make a seizure on the light, Or to seal up the sun. No marigolds yet closed are, No shadows great appear; Nor doth the early shepherd's star Shine like a spangle here. Stay but till my Julia close Her life-begetting eye, And let the whole world then dispose Itself to live or die. 12 Robert Herrick. THE NIGHT-PIECE, TO JULIA HER eyes the glow-worm lend thee, And the elves also, Whose little eyes glow 1648. Like sparks of fire, befriend thee. 5 No Will-o'-the-wisp mislight thee, Not making a stay, Since ghost there 's none to affright thee. 10 Let not the dark thee cumber: What though the moon does slumber? The stars of the night Will lend thee their light TO LUCASTA, GOING BEYOND THE SEAS IF to be absent were to be Away from thee; Or that when I am gone You or I were alone; Then, my Lucasta, might I crave Pity from blustering wind or swallowing wave. 6 But I'll not sigh one blast or gale To swell my sail, Or pay a tear to 'suage The foaming blue god's rage; Or no, I'm still as happy as I was. Though seas and land betwixt us both, Our faith and troth, Like separated souls, All time and space controls:: Above the highest sphere we meet, Unseen, unknown; and greet as Angels greet. So then we do anticipate Our after-fate, 12 18 |