Nature

To the Rose. Song.

by Robert Herrick 1591–1674

From Hesperides (1648)

Nature

GOe happy Rose, and enterwove
With other Flowers, bind my Love.
Tell her too, she must not be,
Longer flowing, longer free,
That so oft has fetter'd me.

Say (if she's fretfull) I have bands
Of Pearle, and Gold, to bind her hands:
Tell her, if she struggle still,
I have Mirtle rods, (at will)
For to tame, though not to kill.

Take thou my blessing, thus, and goe,
And tell her this, but doe not so,
Left a handsome anger flye,
Like a Lightning, from her eye,
And burn thee'up, as well as I.

MLA

Herrick, Robert. “To the Rose. Song.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/240/.

Chicago

Herrick, Robert. “To the Rose. Song.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/240/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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