Nature

How the Wall-flower came first, and why so called.

by Robert Herrick 1591–1674

From Hesperides (1648)

Nature

WHy this Flower is now call'd so,
List' sweet maids, and you shal know.
Understand, this First-ling was
Once a brisk and bonny Lasse,
Kept as close as Danae was:
Who a sprightly Spring all lov'd,
And to have it fully prov'd,
Up she got upon a wall,
Tempting down to slide withall:
But the silken twist unty'd,
So she fell, and bruis'd, she dy'd.
Love, in pitty of the deed,
And her loving-lucklesse speed,
Turn'd her to this Plant, we call
Now, The Flower of the Wall.

MLA

Herrick, Robert. “How the Wall-flower came first, and why so called.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/34/.

Chicago

Herrick, Robert. “How the Wall-flower came first, and why so called.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/34/.

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