Living

Upon himselfe.

by Robert Herrick 1591–1674

From Hesperides (1648)

Living

I Co'd never love indeed;
Never see mine own heart bleed:
Never crucifie my life;
Or for Widow, Maid, or Wife.

I co'd never seeke to please
One, or many Mistresses:
Never like their lips, to sweare
Oyle of Roses still smelt there.

I co'd never breake my sleepe,
Fold mine Armes, sob, sigh, or weep:
Never beg, or humbly wooe
With oathes, and lyes, (as others do.)

I co'd never walke alone;
Put a shirt of sackcloth on:
Never keep a fast, or pray
For good luck in love (that day.)

But have hitherto liv'd free,
As the aire that circles me:
And kept credit with my heart,
Neither broke i'th whole, or part.

MLA

Herrick, Robert. “Upon himselfe.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/491/.

Chicago

Herrick, Robert. “Upon himselfe.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/491/.

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