A selection from the lyrical poems of Robert Herrick Part 23

210. HOW SPRINGS CAME FIRST

These springs were maidens once that loved, But lost to that they most approved: My story tells, by Love they were Turn'd to these springs which we see here: The pretty whimpering that they make, When of the banks their leave they take, Tells ye but this, they are the same, In nothing changed but in their name.

211. TO THE HANDSOME MISTRESS GRACE POTTER

As is your name, so is your comely face Touch'd every where with such diffused grace, As that in all that admirable round, There is not one least solecism found; And as that part, so every portion else Keeps line for line with beauty's parallels.

212. A HYMN TO THE GRACES

When I love, as some have told Love I shall, when I am old, O ye Graces! make me fit For the welcoming of it!

Clean my rooms, as temples be, To entertain that deity; Give me words wherewith to woo, Suppling and successful too; Winning postures; and withal, Manners each way musical; Sweetness to allay my sour And unsmooth behaviour: For I know you have the skill Vines to prune, though not to kill; And of any wood ye see, You can make a Mercury.

213. A HYMN TO LOVE

I will confess With cheerfulness, Love is a thing so likes me, That, let her lay On me all day, I'll kiss the hand that strikes me.

I will not, I, Now blubb'ring cry, It, ah! too late repents me That I did fall To love at all-- Since love so much contents me.

No, no, I'll be In fetters free; While others they sit wringing Their hands for pain, I'll entertain The wounds of love with singing.

With flowers and wine, And cakes divine, To strike me I will tempt thee; Which done, no more I'll come before Thee and thine altars empty.

214. UPON LOVE: BY WAY OF QUESTION AND ANSWER

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Like, and dislike ye.

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Stroke ye, to strike ye.

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Love will be-fool ye.

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Heat ye, to cool ye.

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Love, gifts will send ye.

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Stock ye, to spend ye.

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Love will fulfil ye.

I bring ye love. QUES. What will love do?

ANS. Kiss ye, to kill ye.

215. LOVERS HOW THEY COME AND PART

A Gyges ring they bear about them still, To be, and not seen when and where they will; They tread on clouds, and though they sometimes fall, They fall like dew, and make no noise at all: So silently they one to th' other come, As colours steal into the pear or plum, And air-like, leave no pression to be seen Where'er they met, or parting place has been.

216. THE KISS: A DIALOGUE

1 Among thy fancies, tell me this, What is the thing we call a kiss?

2 I shall resolve ye what it is:--

It is a creature born and bred Between the lips, all cherry-red, By love and warm desires fed,-- CHOR. And makes more soft the bridal bed.

2 It is an active flame, that flies First to the babies of the eyes, And charms them there with lullabies,-- CHOR. And stills the bride, too, when she cries.

2 Then to the chin, the cheek, the ear, It frisks and flies, now here, now there: 'Tis now far off, and then 'tis near,-- CHOR. And here, and there, and every where.

1 Has it a speaking virtue? 2 Yes.

1 How speaks it, say? 2 Do you but this,-- Part your join'd lips, then speaks your kiss; CHOR. And this Love's sweetest language is.

1 Has it a body? 2 Ay, and wings, With thousand rare encolourings; And as it flies, it gently sings-- CHOR. Love honey yields, but never stings.

217. COMFORT TO A YOUTH THAT HAD LOST HIS LOVE

What needs complaints, When she a place Has with the race Of saints?

In endless mirth, She thinks not on What's said or done In earth: She sees no tears, Or any tone Of thy deep groan She hears; Nor does she mind, Or think on't now, That ever thou Wast kind:-- But changed above, She likes not there, As she did here, Thy love.

--Forbear, therefore, And lull asleep Thy woes, and weep No more.

218. ORPHEUS

Orpheus he went, as poets tell, To fetch Eurydice from h.e.l.l; And had her, but it was upon This short, but strict condition; Backward he should not look, while he Led her through h.e.l.l's obscurity.

But ah! it happen'd, as he made His pa.s.sage through that dreadful shade, Revolve he did his loving eye, For gentle fear or jealousy; And looking back, that look did sever Him and Eurydice for ever.