Living
To the most fair and lovely Mistris, Anne Soame, now Lady Abdie.
From Hesperides (1648)
SO smell those odours that do rise
From out the wealthy spiceries:
So smels the flowre of blooming Clove;
Or Roses smother'd in the stove:
So smells the Aire of spiced wine;
Or Essences of Jessimine:
So smells the Breath about the hives,
When well the work of hony thrives;
And all the busie Factours come
Laden with wax and hony home:
So smell those neat and woven Bowers,
All over-archt with Oringe flowers,
And Almond blossoms, that do mix
To make rich these Aromatikes:
So smell those bracelets, and those bands
Of Amber chaf't between the hands,
When thus enkindled they transpire
A noble perfume from the fire.
The wine of cherries, and to these,
The cooling breath of Respasses;
The smell of mornings milk, and cream;
Butter of Cowslips mixt with them;
Of rosted warden, or bak'd peare,
These are not to be reckon'd here;
When as the meanest part of her,
Smells like the maiden-Pomander.
Thus sweet she smells, or what can be
More lik'd by her, or lov'd by mee.
Cite this poem
MLA
Herrick, Robert. “To the most fair and lovely Mistris, Anne Soame, now Lady Abdie.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/377/.
Chicago
Herrick, Robert. “To the most fair and lovely Mistris, Anne Soame, now Lady Abdie.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/377/.
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