Robert Herrick

"Orpheus he went, as poets tell, To fetch Eurydice from hell; And had her, but it was upon This short, but strict condition; Backward he should not"

"We credit most our sight; one eye doth please     Our trust far more than ten ear-witnesses."

"Shift now has cast his clothes: got all things new;     Save but his hat, and that he cannot mew."

"Hence they have borne my Lord; behold! the stone     Is rolled away and my sweet Saviour's gone.     Tell me, white angel, what is now become"

"For each one body that i' th' earth is sown,     There's an uprising but of one for one;     But for each grain that in the ground is thrown,"

"God is His name of nature; but that word     Implies His power when He's called the Lord."

"Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say     Birds choose their mates, and couple too this day;     But by their flight I never can divine"

"I am of all bereft,     Save but some few beans left,     Whereof, at last, to make     For me and mine a cake,     Which eaten, they and I"

"Wrongs, if neglected, vanish in short time,     But heard with anger, we confess the crime."

"I have a leaden, thou a shaft of gold;     Thou kill'st with heat, and I strike dead with cold.     Let's try of us who shall the first expire;"

"Hast thou begun an act? ne'er then give o'er:     No man despairs to do what's done before."

"Pagget, a schoolboy, got a sword, and then     He vow'd destruction both to birch and men:     Who would not think this younker fierce to fight?"

"Fold now thine arms and hang the head,     Like to a lily withered;     Next look thou like a sickly moon,     Or like Jocasta in a swoon;"

"While leanest beasts in pastures feed,     The fattest ox the first must bleed."

"A bachelor I will     Live as I have liv'd still,     And never take a wife     To crucify my life;     But this I'll tell ye too,     What n"

"Hence, hence, profane! soft silence let us have     While we this trental sing about thy grave.     Had wolves or tigers seen but thee,     Th"

"Is this a life, to break thy sleep, To rise as soon as day doth peep? To tire thy patient ox or ass By noon, and let thy good days pass, Not knowi"

"Methought last night Love in an anger came     And brought a rod, so whipt me with the same;     Myrtle the twigs were, merely to imply     Lov"

"Upon her cheeks she wept, and from those showers     Sprang up a sweet nativity of flowers."

"Christ, He requires still, wheresoe'er He comes     To feed or lodge, to have the best of rooms:     Give Him the choice; grant Him the nobler p"

"Were there not a matter known,     There would be no passion."

"Who after his transgression doth repent,     Is half, or altogether innocent."

"In God's commands ne'er ask the reason why;     Let thy obedience be the best reply."

"Like will to like, each creature loves his kind;     Chaste words proceed still from a bashful mind."

"When age or chance has made me blind,     So that the path I cannot find,     And when my falls and stumblings are     More than the stones i'"

"Ye may simper, blush and smile,     And perfume the air awhile;     But, sweet things, ye must be gone,     Fruit, ye know, is coming on;"

"I dreamed this mortal part of mine Was metamorphosed to a vine, Which, crawling one and every way, Enthralled my dainty Lucia. Methought, her long"

"I ask'd my Lucia but a kiss,     And she with scorn denied me this;     Say then, how ill should I have sped,     Had I then ask'd her maidenhe"

"This lady's short, that mistress she is tall;     But long or short, I'm well content with all."

"If I kiss Anthea's breast,     There I smell the ph[oe]nix nest:     If her lip, the most sincere     Altar of incense I smell there -     Han"

"Man's disposition is for to requite     An injury, before a benefit:     Thanksgiving is a burden and a pain;     Revenge is pleasing to us, as"

"Kings must not use the axe for each offence:     Princes cure some faults by their patience."

"Give house-room to the best; 'tis never known     Virtue and pleasure both to dwell in one."

"Kindle the Christmas brand, and then Till sunset let it burn; Which quench'd, then lay it up again, Till Christmas next return. Part must be kept"

"Glide, gentle streams, and bear     Along with you my tear     To that coy girl     Who smiles, yet slays     Me with delays,     And strings"

"If war or want shall make me grow so poor,     As for to beg my bread from door to door;     Lord! let me never act that beggar's part,     Who"

"Though I cannot give thee fires     Glittering to my free desires;     These accept, and I'll be free,     Offering poppy unto thee."

"Two of a thousand things are disallow'd:     A lying rich man, and a poor man proud."

"Lord, do not beat me,     Since I do sob and cry,     And swoon away to die,     Ere Thou dost threat me.     Lord, do not scourge me,     If"

"Only a little more I have to write: Then I'll give o'er, And bid the world good-night. 'Tis but a flying minute, That I must stay, Or linger in"

"Fill me my wine in crystal; thus, and thus     I see't in's puris naturalibus:     Unmix'd. I love to have it smirk and shine;     'Tis sin I k"

"If thou hast found an honeycomb,     Eat thou not all, but taste on some:     For if thou eat'st it to excess,     That sweetness turns to loat"

"Pievish doth boast that he's the very first     Of English poets, and 'tis thought the worst."

"Comely acts well; and when he speaks his part,     He doth it with the sweetest tones of art:     But when he sings a psalm, there's none can be"

"Hang up hooks and shears to scare     Hence the hag that rides the mare,     Till they be all over wet     With the mire and the sweat:     Th"

"Our honours and our commendations be     Due to the merits, not authority."

"Nor art thou less esteem'd that I have plac'd,     Amongst mine honour'd, thee almost the last:     In great processions many lead the way"

"Dry your sweet cheek, long drown'd with sorrow's rain,     Since, clouds dispers'd, suns gild the air again.     Seas chafe and fret, and beat,"

"What will ye, my poor orphans, do, When I must leave the world and you; Who'll give ye then a sheltering shed, Or credit ye, when I am dead? Who'l"

"For second course, last night, a custard came     To th' board, so hot as none could touch the same:     Furze three or four times with his chee"

"Cock calls his wife his Hen: when Cock goes to't,     Cock treads his Hen, but treads her underfoot."

"Go hence away, and in thy parting know     'Tis not my voice but Heaven's that bids thee go;     Spring hence thy faith, nor think it ill desert"

"God's said our hearts to harden then,     Whenas His grace not supples men."

"Begin with a kiss,         Go on too with this;     And thus, thus, thus let us smother         Our lips for awhile,         But let's not"

"Prig now drinks water, who before drank beer;     What's now the cause? we know the case is clear;     Look in Prig's purse, the chev'ril there"

"I ask'd thee oft what poets thou hast read,     And lik'st the best. Still thou reply'st: The dead.     I shall, ere long, with green turfs cove"

"To-morrow, Julia, I betimes must rise,     For some small fault to offer sacrifice:     The altar's ready: fire to consume     The fat; breathe"

"When flowing garments I behold     Inspir'd with purple, pearl and gold,     I think no other, but I see     In them a glorious leprosy     Th"

"Choose me your valentine,     Next let us marry -     Love to the death will pine     If we long tarry.     Promise, and keep your vows,"

"Play their offensive and defensive parts,     Till they be hid o'er with a wood of darts."