Robert Herrick

(1591-1674)

A CONJURATION: TO ELECTRA
By those soft tods of wool,
HIS CONTENT IN THE COUNTRY
HERE, Here I live with what my board
NOT EVERY DAY FIT FOR VERSE
'Tis not ev'ry day that I
THE BEGGAR TO MAB, THE FAIRY QUEEN
Please your Grace, from out your store
THE BELL-MAN
From noise of scare-fires rest ye free
THE CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS DAY
Kindle the Christmas brand, and then
THE SUCCESSION OF THE FOUR SWEET MONTHS
First, April, she with mellow showers
THINGS MORTAL STILL MUTABLE
Things are uncertain; and the more we get,
TO ANTHEA, WHO MAY COMMAND HIM ANY THING
Bid me to live, and I will live
TO DIANEME
Give me one kiss,
TO HIS KINSWOMAN, MISTRESS SUSANNA HERRICK
When I consider, dearest, thou dost stay
TO PERlLLA
Ah, my Perilla! dost thou grieve to see
LOVE DISLIKES NOTHING
Whatsoever thing I see,
A BUCOLIC BETWIXT TWO;LACON AND THYRSIS
LACON. For a kiss or two, confess,
A CANTICLE TO APOLLO
Play, Phoebus, on thy lute,
A COUNTRY LIFE:TO HIS BROTHER, MR THOMAS HERRICK
Thrice, and above, blest, my soul's half, art thou,
A DIALOGUE BETWIXT HIMSELF AND MISTRESS ELIZAWHEELER, UNDER THE NAME OF AMARILLIS
My dearest Love, since thou wilt go,
A HYMN TO BACCHUS
Bacchus, let me drink no more!
A HYMN TO LOVE
I will confess
A HYMN TO THE GRACES
When I love, as some have told
A HYMN TO VENUS AND CUPID
Sea-born goddess, let me be
A MEAN IN OUR MEANS
Though frankincense the deities require,
A MEDITATION FOR HIS MISTRESS
You are a Tulip seen to-day,
A NEW YEAR'S GIFT,SENT TO SIR SIMEON STEWARD
No news of navies burnt at seas;
A PANEGYRIC TO SIR LEWIS PEMBERTON
Till I shall come again, let this suffice,
A PARANAETICALL, OR ADVISIVE VERSETO HIS FRIEND, MR JOHN WICKS
Is this a life, to break thy sleep,
A PASTORAL SUNG TO THE KING
MON. Bad are the times. SIL. And worse than they are we.
A PASTORAL UPON THE BIRTH OF PRINCE CHARLES:PRESENTED TO THE KING, AND SET BY MR NIC. LANIERE
AMIN. Good day, Mirtillo. MIRT. And to you no less;
A REQUEST TO THE GRACES
Ponder my words, if so that any be
A Thanksgiving To God, For His House
Lord, Thou hast given me a cell
A THANKSGIVING TO GOD, FOR HIS HOUSE
Lord, thou hast given me a cell,
A VOW TO VENUS
Happily I had a sight
ALL THINGS DECAY AND DIE
All things decay with time: The forest sees
AMBITION
In man, ambition is the common'st thing;
AN EPITAPH UPON A CHILD
Virgins promised when I died,
AN EPITAPH UPON A VIRGIN
Here a solemn fast we keep,
AN HYMN TO THE MUSES
Honour to you who sit
An Ode For Ben Jonson
Ah Ben
AN ODE FOR BEN JONSON
Ah Ben!
AN ODE OF THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR
In numbers, and but these few,
AN ODE TO SIR CLIPSBY CREW
Here we securely live, and eat
ANACREONTIC
Born I was to be old,
Another Grace For A Child
Here a little child I stand
ANTHEA'S RETRACTATION
Anthea laugh'd, and, fearing lest excess
ART ABOVE NATURE: TO JULIA
When I behold a forest spread
BARLEY-BREAK; OR, LAST IN HELL
We two are last in hell; what may we fear
BURIAL
Man may want land to live in; but for all
CASUALTIES
Good things, that come of course, far less do please
CEREMONIES FOR CANDLEMAS EVE
Down with the rosemary and bays,
CEREMONY UPON CANDLEMAS EVE
Down with the rosemary, and so
CHERRY RIPE
Cherry-ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry,
Cherry- Ripe
CHERRY-RIPE, ripe, ripe, I cry,
COCK-CROW
Bell-man of night, if I about shall go
COMFORT TO A YOUTH THAT HAD LOST HIS LOVE
What needs complaints,
Corinna's Going A-Maying
Get up, get up for shame, the blooming Morn
CRUTCHES
Thou see'st me, Lucia, this year droop;
Delight In Disorder
A sweet disorder in the dress
DELIGHT IN DISORDER
A sweet disorder in the dress
Discontents In Devon
More discontents I never had
DREAMS
Here we are all, by day; by night we're hurl'd
ETERNITY
O years! and age! farewell:
FAREWELL FROST, OR WELCOME SPRING
Fled are the frosts, and now the fields appear
FELICITY QUICK OF FLIGHT
Every time seems short to be
FOUR THINGS MAKE US HAPPY HERE
Health is the first good lent to men;
GOOD PRECEPTS, OR COUNSEL
In all thy need, be thou possest
GRACE FOR A CHILD
Here, a little child, I stand,
HER BED
See'st thou that cloud as silver clear,
HIS AGE:DEDICATED TO HIS PECULIAR FRIEND,MR JOHN WICKES, UNDER THE NAME OFPOSTUMUS
Ah, Posthumus! our years hence fly
HIS COVENANT OR PROTESTATION TO JULIA
Why dost thou wound and break my heart,
HIS DESIRE
Give me a man that is not dull,
HIS GRANGE, OR PRIVATE WEALTH
Though clock,
HIS LAST REQUEST TO JULIA
I have been wanton, and too bold, I fear,
HIS LITANY, TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
In the hour of my distress,
HIS LOSS
All has been plunder'd from me but my wit:
HIS MISTRESS TO HIM AT HIS FAREWELL
You may vow I'll not forget
HIS POETRY HIS PILLAR
Only a little more
His Prayer For Absolution
For those my unbaptized rhymes,
His Prayer To Ben Jonson
When I a verse shall make,
HIS REQUEST TO JULIA
Julia, if I chance to die
His Return To London
From the dull confines of the drooping west
HIS RETURN TO LONDON
From the dull confines of the drooping west,
HIS SAILING FROM JULIA
When that day comes, whose evening says I'm gone
HIS WINDING-SHEET
Come thou, who art the wine and wit
His Wish To God
I would to God, that mine old age might have
HIS WISH TO PRIVACY
Give me a cell
HOW HIS SOUL CAME ENSNARED
My soul would one day go and seek
HOW PANSIES OR HEARTS-EASE CAME FIRST
Frolic virgins once these were,
HOW SPRINGS CAME FIRST
These springs were maidens once that loved,
I CALL AND I CALL
I call, I call: who do ye call?
IMPOSSIBILITIES: TO HIS FRIEND
My faithful friend, if you can see
KISSING USURY
Biancha, let
LIFE IS THE BODY'S LIGHT
Life is the body's light; which, once declining,
LOSS FROM THE LEAST
Great men by small means oft are overthrown;
LOVE LIGHTLY PLEASED
Let fair or foul my mistress be,
LOVE, WHAT IT IS
Love is a circle, that doth restless move
LOVERS HOW THEY COME AND PART
A Gyges ring they bear about them still,
MAN'S DYING-PLACE UNCERTAIN
Man knows where first he ships himself; but he
MATINS, OR MORNING PRAYER
When with the virgin morning thou dost rise,
MEN MIND NO STATE IN SICKNESS
That flow of gallants which approach
MIRTH
True mirth resides not in the smiling skin;
MONEY MAKES THE MIRTH
When all birds else do of their music fail,
MRS ELIZ: WHEELER, UNDER THE NAME OF THELOST SHEPHERDESS
Among the myrtles as I walk'd
NO FAULT IN WOMEN
No fault in women, to refuse
NO MAN WITHOUT MONEY
No man such rare parts hath, that he can swim,
NO PAINS, NO GAINS
If little labour, little are our gains;
NOTHING FREE-COST
Nothing comes free-cost here; Jove will not let
OF LOVE: A SONNET
How Love came in, I do not know,
ON A PERFUMED LADY
You say you're sweet: how should we know
ON HIMSELF
A wearied pilgrim I have wander'd here,
ON HIMSELF
Weep for the dead, for they have lost this light;
ON HIMSELF
I'll write no more of love, but now repent
ON HIMSELF
Lost to the world; lost to myself; alone
ON HlMSELF
Live by thy Muse thou shalt, when others die,
ON LOVE
Love's of itself too sweet; the best of all
ORPHEUS
Orpheus he went, as poets tell,
PARDONS
Those ends in war the best contentment bring,
PEACE NOT PERMANENT
Great cities seldom rest; if there be none
POVERTY AND RICHES
Who with a little cannot be content,
PRAY AND PROSPER
First offer incense; then, thy field and meads
PURPOSES
No wrath of men, or rage of seas,
SAFETY ON THE SHORE
What though the sea be calm? Trust to the shore;
SATISFACTION FOR SUFFERINGS
For all our works a recompence is sure;
SOFT MUSIC
The mellow touch of music most doth wound
TEARS AND LAUGHTER
Knew'st thou one month would take thy life away,
THE APPARITION OF HIS, MISTRESS,CALLING HIM TO ELYSIUM
Come then, and like two doves with silvery wings,
THE APRON OF FLOWERS
To gather flowers, Sappha went,
The Argument Of His Book
I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers,
The Bad Season Makes The Poet Sad
Dull to myself, and almost dead to these
THE BAD SEASON MAKES THE POET SAD
Dull to myself, and almost dead to these,
THE BAG OF THE BEE
About the sweet bag of a bee
THE BELL-MAN
Along the dark and silent night,
THE BLEEDING HAND; OR THE SPRIG OF EGLANTINE GIVEN TO A MAID
From this bleeding hand of mine,
THE BRACELET TO JULIA
Why I tie about thy wrist,
THE BRIDE-CAKE
This day, my Julia, thou must make
THE BUBBLE: A SONG
To my revenge, and to her desperate fears,
THE CAPTIVE BEE; OR, THE LITTLE FILCHER
As Julia once a-slumb'ring lay,
THE CAPTIVE BEE; OR, THE LITTLE FILCHER
As Julia once a-slumb'ring lay,
THE CHANGES: TO CORINNA
Be not proud, but now incline
THE CHEAT OF CUPID; OR, THE UNGENTLE GUEST
One silent night of late,
THE COMING OF GOOD LUCK
So Good-Luck came, and on my roof did light,
THE COUNTRY LIFE:
Sweet country life, to such unknown,
THE CRUEL MAID
--AND, cruel maid, because I see
THE DEFINITION OF BEAUTY
Beauty no other thing is, than a beam
THE DIRGE OF JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER:SUNG BY THE VIRGINS
O thou, the wonder of all days!
THE FAIRIES
If ye will with Mab find grace,
THE FAIRY TEMPLE; OR, OBERON'S CHAPEL
A way enchaced with glass and beads
THE FUNERAL RITES OF THE ROSE
The Rose was sick, and smiling died;
THE HAG
The Hag is astride,
THE HEART
In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part
THE HOCK-CART, OR HARVEST HOME:TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MILDMAY, EARL OF WESTMORLAND
Come, Sons of Summer, by whose toil
THE INVITATION
To sup with thee thou didst me home invite,
THE KISS: A DIALOGUE
1 Among thy fancies, tell me this,
THE LILY IN A CRYSTAL
You have beheld a smiling rose
THE MAD MAID'S SONG
Good morrow to the day so fair;
THE MAYPOLE
The May-pole is up,
THE NIGHT PIECE: TO JULIA
Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee,
The Night Piect, To Julia
Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee,
THE OLD WIVES' PRAYER
Holy-Rood, come forth and shield
THE OLIVE BRANCH
Sadly I walk'd within the field,
THE PARCAE; OR, THREE DAINTY DESTINIES:THE ARMILET
Three lovely sisters working were,
THE PARLIAMENT OF ROSES TO JULIA
I dreamt the Roses one time went
THE PLAUDITE, OR END OF LIFE
If after rude and boisterous seas
THE PRESENT TIME BEST PLEASETH
Praise, they that will, times past: I joy to see
THE PRESENT; OR, THE BAG OF THE BEE:
Fly to my mistress, pretty pilfering bee,
THE PRIMROSE
Ask me why I send you here
THE ROCK OF RUBIES, AND THE QUARRY OFPEARLS
Some ask'd me where the Rubies grew:
THE SHOWER OF BLOSSOMS
Love in a shower of blossoms came
THE TRANSFIGURATION
Immortal clothing I put on
The Vine
I dreamed this mortal part of mine
THE VOICE AND VIOL
Rare is the voice itself: but when we sing
THE WAKE
Come, Anthea, let us two
THE WASSAIL
Give way, give way, ye gates, and win
THE WATCH
Man is a watch, wound up at first, but never
THE WHITE ISLAND:OR PLACE OF THE BLEST
In this world, the Isle of Dreams,
THE WIDOWS' TEARS; OR, DIRGE OF DORCAS
Come pity us, all ye who see
THE WOUNDED HEART
Come, bring your sampler, and with art
TO A GENTLEWOMAN, OBJECTING TO HIM HISGRAY HAIRS
Am I despised, because you say;
TO ANTHEA
Anthea, I am going hence
TO ANTHEA
Now is the time when all the lights wax dim;
TO ANTHEA
AH, my Anthea ! Must my heart still break ?
TO BACCHUS: A CANTICLE
Whither dost thou hurry me,
TO BE MERRY
Let's now take our time,
TO BLOSSOMS
Fair pledges of a fruitful tree,
TO CARNATIONS: A SONG
Stay while ye will, or go,
TO DAFFADILS
Fair Daffadils, we weep to see
To Daffodils
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see
TO DAISIES, NOT TO SHUT SO SOON
Shut not so soon; the dull-eyed night
TO DEATH
Thou bidst me come away,
TO DIANEME
I could but see thee yesterday
TO DIANEME
Sweet, be not proud of those two eyes,
TO DIANEME
Dear, though to part it be a hell,
TO ELECTRA
I dare not ask a kiss,
TO ENJOY THE TIME
While fates permit us, let's be merry;
TO GROVES
Ye silent shades, whose each tree here
TO HEAVEN
Open thy gates
TO HIS BOOK
Make haste away, and let one be
TO HIS BOOK
Be bold, my Book, nor be abash'd, or fear
TO HIS BOOK
Go thou forth, my book, though late,
TO HIS BOOK
If hap it must, that I must see thee lie
TO HIS BOOK
Take mine advice, and go not near
To His Conscience
Can I not sin, but thou wilt be
TO HIS CONSCIENCE
Can I not sin, but thou wilt be
TO HIS DYING BROTHER, MASTER WILLIAM HERRICK
Life of my life, take not so soon thy flight,
TO HIS HONOURED AND MOST INGENIOUS FRIENDMR CHARLES COTTON
For brave comportment, wit without offence,
TO HIS LOVELY MISTRESSES
One night i'th' year, my dearest Bmauties, come,
TO HIS MISTRESS, OBJECTING TO HIM NEITHERTOYING OR TALKING
You say I love not, 'cause I do not play
TO HIS MUSE
Whither, mad maiden, wilt thou roam?
TO HIS PATERNAL COUNTRY
O earth! earth! earth! hear thou my voice, and be
TO HIS PECULIAR FRIEND, MR JOHN WICKS
Since shed or cottage I have none,
TO HIS SAVIOUR, A CHILD;A PRESENT, BY A CHILD
Go, pretty child, and bear this flower
TO HIS SWEET SAVIOUR
Night hath no wings to him that cannot sleep;
TO HIS VERSES
What will ye, my poor orphans, do,
TO JULIA
How rich and pleasing thou, my Julia, art,
TO LAURELS
A funeral stone
TO LIVE FREELY
Let's live in haste; use pleasures while we may;
TO LIVE MERRILY,AND TO TRUST TO GOOD VERSES
Now is the time for mirth;
To Live Merrily, And To Trust To Good Verses
Now is the time for mirth,
TO MEADOWS
Ye have been fresh and green,
TO MISTRESS KATHARINE BRADSHAW, THE LOVELY, THAT CROWNED HIM WITH LAUREL
My Muse in meads has spent her many hours
TO MUSIC
Begin to charm, and as thou strok'st mine ears
TO MUSIC, TO BECALM A SWEET SICK YOUTH
Charms, that call down the moon from out her sphere,
TO MUSIC, TO BECALM HIS FEVER
Charm me asleep, and melt me so
TO MUSIC: A SONG
Music, thou queen of heaven, care-charming spell,
TO OENONE.
What conscience, say, is it in thee,
TO PANSIES
Ah, Cruel Love! must I endure
TO PERENNA
When I thy parts run o'er, I can't espy
TO PHILLIS, TO LOVE AND LIVE WITH HIM
Live, live with me, and thou shalt see
TO PRIMROSES FILLED WITH MORNING DEW
Why do ye weep, sweet babes? can tears
TO ROBIN RED-BREAST
Laid out for dead, let thy last kindness be
TO SAPHO
Sapho, I will chuse to go
TO SILVIA
Pardon my trespass, Silvia! I confess
TO SILVIA TO WED
Let us, though late, at last, my Silvia, wed;
TO SIR CLIPSBY CREW
Since to the country first I came,
TO THE GENIUS OF HIS HOUSE
Command the roof, great Genius, and from thence
TO THE HANDSOME MISTRESS GRACE POTTER
As is your name, so is your comely face
TO THE LADY CREWE, UPON THE DEATH OF HER CHILD
Why, Madam, will ye longer weep,
TO THE MAIDS, TO WALK ABROAD
Come, sit we under yonder tree,
TO THE ROSE: SONG
Go, happy Rose, and interwove
To The Virgins, To Make Much Of Time
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may:
TO THE WATER-NYMPHS DRINKING AT THEFOUNTAIN
Reach with your whiter hands to me
TO THE WILLOW-TREE
Thou art to all lost love the best,
TO VIOLETS
Welcome, maids of honour,
TO YOUTH
Drink wine, and live here blitheful while ye may;
TRUTH AND ERROR
Twixt truth and error, there's this difference known
Up Scoble
Scobble for whoredom whips his wife and cries
Upon A Child
Here a pretty baby lies
UPON A CHILD
Here a pretty baby lies
Upon A Child That Died
Here she lies, a pretty bud,
UPON A CHILD THAT DIED
Here she lies, a pretty bud,
UPON A DELAYING LADY
Come, come away
UPON A MAID
Here she lies, in bed of spice,
UPON A PAINTED GENTLEWOMAN
Men say you're fair; and fair ye are, 'tis true;
UPON CUPID
Love, like a gipsy, lately came,
UPON HER EYES
Clear are her eyes,
UPON HER FEET
Her pretty feet
UPON HIMSELF
Thou shalt not all die; for while Love's fire shines
UPON HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, MISTRESS ELIZABETHHERRICK
First, for effusions due unto the dead,
Upon Julia's Clothes
Upon Julia's Clothes
UPON JULIA'S CLOTHES
Whenas in silks my Julia goes,
UPON JULIA'S HAIR FILLED WITH DEW
Dew sate on Julia's hair,
UPON JULIA'S RECOVERY
Droop, droop no more, or hang the head,
UPON JULIA'S RIBBON
As shews the air when with a rain-bow graced,
UPON JULIA'S VOICE
When I thy singing next shall hear,
UPON LOVE
A crystal vial Cupid brought,
UPON LOVE
I held Love's head while it did ache;
UPON LOVE:BY WAY OF QUESTION AND ANSWER
I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?
UPON MAN
Man is composed here of a twofold part;
UPON MRS ELIZ. WHEELER, UNDER THE NAME OFAMARILLIS
Sweet Amarillis, by a spring's
UPON ROSES
Under a lawn, than skies more clear,
UPON TEARS
Tears, though they're here below the sinner's brine,
UPON THE DETRACTER
I ask'd thee oft what poets thou hast read,
Upon The Loss Of His Mistresses
I have lost, and lately, these
UPON THE LOSS OF HIS MISTRESSES
I have lost, and lately, these
UPON TIME
Time was upon
UPON WRINKLES
Wrinkles no more are, or no less,
WANT
Want is a softer wax, that takes thereon,
What Kind Of Mistress He Would Have
Be the mistress of my choice,
When He Would Have His Verses Read
In sober mornings do thou not rehearse
WHEN HE WOULD HAVE HIS VERSES READ
In sober mornings, do not thou rehearse
WHY FLOWERS CHANGE COLOUR
These fresh beauties, we can prove,
WlT PUNISHED PROSPERS MOST
Dread not the shackles; on with thine intent,
WRITING
When words we want, Love teacheth to indite;