Living

To the right Honourable Mildmay, Earle of Westmorland..

by Robert Herrick 1591–1674

From Hesperides (1648)

Living

YOu are a Lord, an Earle, nay more, a Man,
Who writes sweet Numbers well as any can:
If so, why then are not These Verses hurld,
Like Sybels Leaves, throughout the ample world?
What is a Jewell if it be not set
Forth by a Ring, or some rich Carkanet?
But being so; then the beholders cry,
See, see a Jemme (as rare as Baelus eye.)
Then publick praise do's runne upon the Stone,
For a most rich, a rare, a precious One.
Expose your jewels then unto the view,
That we may praise Them, or themselves prize You.
Vertue conceal'd (with Horace you'l confesse)
Differs not much from drowzie slothfullnesse.

MLA

Herrick, Robert. “To the right Honourable Mildmay, Earle of Westmorland..” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/460/.

Chicago

Herrick, Robert. “To the right Honourable Mildmay, Earle of Westmorland..” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/460/.

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