Made green and trimm'd with trees: see how Or branch: each porch, each door, ere this, Made up of white-thorn neatly interwove; There's not a budding boy or girl this day 42 Back, and with white-thorn laden home. 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; 56 To Blossoms We shall grow old apace, and die Our life is short, and our days run 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, Your date is not so past But you may stay yet here awhile, To blush and gently smile; 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. 6 12 1648. But you are lovely leaves, where we Their end, though ne'er so brave; Into the grave. 18 Robert Herrick. 1648. TO DAFFODILS FAIR Daffodils, we weep to see 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, As quick a growth to meet decay We die, As your hours do, and dry Like to the Summer's rain; Or as the pearls of morning's dew, IO 20 Robert Herrick. YE have been fresh and green, And ye the walks have been Where maids have spent their hours. 4 You have beheld how they With wicker arks did come The richer cowslips home. You 've heard them sweetly sing, And seen them in a round: With honeysuckles crown'd. But now we see none here Life unthrifts, having spent 8 12 16 Your stock and needy grown, 20 1648. Robert Herrick. MY HEART 'S IN THE HIGHLANDS My heart 's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart 's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go. |