Living

To his friend to avoid contention of words.

by Robert Herrick 1591–1674

From Hesperides (1648)

Living

WOrds beget Anger; Anger brings forth blowes:
Blowes make of dearest friends immortall Foes.
For which prevention (Sociate) let there be
Betwixt us two no more Logomachie.
Farre better 'twere for either to be mute,
Then for to murder friendship, by dispute.

MLA

Herrick, Robert. “To his friend to avoid contention of words.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/910/.

Chicago

Herrick, Robert. “To his friend to avoid contention of words.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/herrick/910/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Robert Herrick