Corinna 's Going a-Maying

See how Aurora throws her fair
Fresh-quilted colours through the air:
Get up, sweet slug-a-bed, and see

The dew bespangling herb and tree!
Each flower has wept and bow'd toward the east
Above an hour since, yet you not drest;

Nay! not so much as out of bed?

When all the birds have matins said
And sung their thankful hymns, 't is sin,

Nay, profanation, to keep in,

Whereas a thousand virgins on this day

Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch in May. 14

Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen
To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and

green,

And sweet as Flora. Take no care
For jewels for your gown or hair:
Fear not; the leaves will strew

Gems in abundance upon you:

Besides, the childhood of the day has kept,
Against you come, some orient pearls unwept.
Come, and receive them while the light
Hangs on the dew-locks of the night:
And Titan on the eastern hill

Retires himself, or else stands still

Till you come forth! Wash, dress, be brief in

praying:

Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying. 28

Come, my Corinna, come; and coming, mark How each field turns a street, each street a park,

Made green and trimm'd with trees: see how
Devotion gives each house a bough

Or branch: each porch, each door, ere this,
An ark, a tabernacle is,

Made up of white-thorn neatly interwove;
As if here were those cooler shades of love.
Can such delights be in the street

And open fields, and we not see 't?
Come, we'll abroad: and let's obey
The proclamation made for May,
And sin no more, as we have done, by staying;
But, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.

There's not a budding boy or girl this day
But is got up and gone to bring in May.
A deal of youth ere this is come

42

Back, and with white-thorn laden home.
Some have despatch'd their cakes and cream,
Before that we have left to dream:

And some have wept and woo'd, and plighted

troth,

And chose their priest, ere we can cast off sloth:
Many a green-gown has been given;

Many a kiss, both odd and even:
Many a glance, too, has been sent
From out the eye, love's firmament;

Many a jest told of the keys betraying
This night, and locks pick'd: yet we're not
a-Maying!

Come, let us go, while we are in our prime;
And take the harmless folly of the time.

56

To Blossoms

We shall grow old apace, and die
Before we know our liberty.

Our life is short, and our days run
As fast away as does the sun;
And, as a vapour or a drop of rain,
Once lost, can ne'er be found again,
So when or you or I are made
A fable, song, or fleeting shade,
All love, all liking, all delight

Lies drown'd with us in endless night.
Then while time serves, and we are but decaying,
Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.

1648.

70

Robert Herrick.

TO BLOSSOMS

FAIR pledges of a fruitful tree,
Why do ye fall so fast?

Your date is not so past

But you may stay yet here awhile,
To blush and gently smile;
And go at last.

What! were ye born to be

An hour or half's delight,

And so to bid good-night?

'T was pity Nature brought ye forth,

Merely to show your worth,
And lose you quite.

12

1648.

But you are lovely leaves, where we

May read how soon things have

Their end, though ne'er so brave;
And after they have shown their pride
Like you awhile, they glide

Into the grave.

18

Robert Herrick.

1648.

TO DAFFODILS

FAIR Daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon:

As yet the early-rising Sun

Has not attain'd his noon.

Stay, stay,

Until the hasting day

Has run

But to the even-song;

And, having pray'd together, we

Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,
We have as short a Spring;

As quick a growth to meet decay

As you, or any thing.

We die,

As your hours do, and dry

Away,

Like to the Summer's rain;

Or as the pearls of morning's dew,
Ne'er to be found again.

ΙΟ

20

Robert Herrick.

YE have been fresh and green,
Ye have been fill'd with flowers,

And ye the walks have been

Where maids have spent their hours. 4