Robert Herrick Quotes - Page 4

Things are evermore sincere; / Candor here, and lustre there / Delighting.

Cherry-ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry, Full and fair ones; come and buy. If so be you ask me where They do grow, I answer: There, Where my Julia's lips do smile; There's the land, or cherry-isle, Whose plantations fully show All the year where cherries grow.

Whatever comes, let's be content withal: Among God's blessings there is no one small.

Roses at first were white, Till thy co'd not agree, Whether my Sapho's breast, Or they more white sho'd be.

Fain would I kiss my Julia's dainty leg, Which is as white and hairless as an egg.

Lord, 'tis Thy plenty-dropping hand That soils my land, And giv'st me for my bushel sowne Twice ten for one. All this, and better, Thou dost send Me, to this end, That I should render, for my part, A thankful heart.

In ways to greatness think on this, That slippery all ambition is

A little saint best fits a little shrine, A little prop best fits a little vine, As my small cruse best fits my little wine.

Tears are the noble language of the eye.

Outdid the meat, outdid the frolic wine.

He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Submits his neck into a second yoke.

It is an active flame that fliesFirst to the babies in the eyes.

A winning wave, (deserving note.) In the tempestuous petticote, A careless shoe-string, in whose tye I see a wilde civility,-- Doe more bewitch me than when art Is too precise in every part.

When the tempter me pursueth With the sins of all my youth, And half damns me with untruth, Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

Praise they that will times past, I joy to see My selfe now live: this age best pleaseth mee.

Next, when I cast mine eyes and see That brave vibration each way free, O how that glittering taketh me!

So when or you or I are made A fable, song, or fleeting shade; All love, all liking, all delight Lies drowned with us in endless night. Then while time serves, and we are but decaying; Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a Maying.

O thou, the drink of gods and angels! Wine

Let my muse Fail of thy former helps, and only use Her inadulterate strength. What's done by me Hereafter shall smell of the lamp, not thee.

Hast thou attempted greatnesse? Then go on; Back-turning slackens resolution.

Let wealth come in by comely thrift, And not by any sordid shift; 'T is haste Makes waste; Extremes have still their fault. Who gripes too hard the dry and slipp'ry sand, Holds none at all, or little, in his hand.

When one is past, another care we have; Thus woe succeeds a woe, as wave a wave.

Before man's fall the rose was born,St. Ambrose says, without the thorn;But for man's fault then was the thornWithout the fragrant rose-bud born; But ne'er the rose without the thorn.

Against diseases here the strongest fence is the defensive vertue, Abstinence.

The readiness of doing doth expresse No other but the doer's willingnesse.