Top 123 Quotes & Sayings by Robert Herrick - Page 2

A SWEET disorder in the dress Kindles in clothes a wantonness : A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distraction : An erring lace which here and there Enthrals the crimson stomacher : A cuff neglectful, and thereby Ribbons to flow confusedly : A winning wave (deserving note) In the tempestuous petticoat : A careless shoe-string, in whose tie I see a wild civility : Do more bewitch me than when art Is too precise in every part.

Here a pretty Baby lies Sung asleep with Lullabies: Pray be silent, and not stirre The easie earth that covers her.

Things are evermore sincere; / Candor here, and lustre there / Delighting.

Happy is the bride that the sun shines on.

My soul I'll pour into thee.

The May-pole is up, Now give me the cup; I'll drink to the garlands around it; But first unto those Whose hands did compose The glory of flowers that crown'd it.

What though the sea be calm? trust to the shore, Ships have been drown'd, where late they danc'd before.

A little saint best fits a little shrine, A little prop best fits a little vine, As my small cruse best fits my little wine.

Seldom comes Glory till a man be dead.

Cherry-ripe, ripe, ripe, I cry, Full and fair ones; come and buy. If so be you ask me where They do grow, I answer: There, Where my Julia's lips do smile; There's the land, or cherry-isle, Whose plantations fully show All the year where cherries grow.

Well I sup and well I dine, When I drink my frolic wine.

Temptations hurt not, though they have accesse; Satan o'ercomes none but by willingnesse.

When a daffadill I see, Hanging down his head towards me, Guess I may, what I must be: First, I shall decline my head; Secondly, I shall be dead: Lastly, safely buryed.

Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and green, And sweet as Flora. Take no care For jewels for your gown or hair Fear not; the leaves will strew Gems in abundance upon you Besides, the childhood of the day has kept, Against you come, some orient pearls unwept. Come, and receive them while the light Hangs on the dew-locks of the night And Titan on the eastern hill Retires himself, or else stands still Till you come forth! Wash, dress, be brief in praying Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying.

Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score: Then to that twenty, add a hundred more.

Outdid the meat, outdid the frolic wine.

Learn this of me, where'er thy lot doth fall, Short lot, or not, to be content with all.

O thou, the drink of gods and angels! Wine

When one is past, another care we have; Thus woe succeeds a woe, as wave a wave.

God doth not promise here to man that HeWill free him quickly from his misery;But in His own time, and when He thinks fit,Then He will give a happy end to it.

When the tempter me pursueth With the sins of all my youth, And half damns me with untruth, Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

Fain would I kiss my Julia's dainty leg, Which is as white and hairless as an egg.

Go to your banquet then, but use delight So as to rise still with an appetite.

Give, if thou can, an alms; if not, a sweet and gentle word.

Whatever comes, let's be content withal: Among God's blessings there is no one small.

Roses at first were white, Till thy co'd not agree, Whether my Sapho's breast, Or they more white sho'd be.

Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen To come forth, like the springtime, fresh and green

Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say, Birds chuse their mates and couple too this day: But by their flight I never can devine When I shall couple with my valentine.

Bid me to live, and I will liveThy Protestant to be,Or bid me love, and I will giveA loving heart to thee.

The readiness of doing doth expresse No other but the doer's willingnesse.

Love is maintain'd by wealth: when all is spent, Adversity then breeds the discontent.

Gather ye rosebuds, while ye may.

T is the will that makes the action good or ill.

And as this round (ring) is nowhere found to flaw, or else to sever. So let our love as endless prove and pure as gold forever.

Like will to like, each creature loves his kind.

Tis hard to find God, but to comprehend Him, as He is, is labour without end.

Hast thou attempted greatnesse? Then go on; Back-turning slackens resolution.

But ne'er the rose without the thorn.

Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under that cypress tree;Or bid me die, and I will dareE'en Death, to die for thee.

So when or you or I are made A fable, song, or fleeting shade; All love, all liking, all delight Lies drowned with us in endless night. Then while time serves, and we are but decaying; Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a Maying.

Against diseases here the strongest fence is the defensive vertue, Abstinence.

Lord, 'tis Thy plenty-dropping hand That soils my land, And giv'st me for my bushel sowne Twice ten for one. All this, and better, Thou dost send Me, to this end, That I should render, for my part, A thankful heart.

No, not Jove Himselfe, at one time, can be wise and love.

Welcome, maids of honor, You doe bring In the spring, And wait upon her.

Before man's fall the rose was born,St. Ambrose says, without the thorn;But for man's fault then was the thornWithout the fragrant rose-bud born; But ne'er the rose without the thorn.

Necessity makes dastards valiant men.

Feed him ye must, whose food fills you. And that this pleasure is like raine, Not sent ye for to drowne your paine, But for to make it spring againe.

We credit most our sight; one eye doth please Our trust farre more than ten eare-witnesses.

A winning wave, (deserving note.) In the tempestuous petticote, A careless shoe-string, in whose tye I see a wilde civility,-- Doe more bewitch me than when art Is too precise in every part.

A careless shoe string, in whose tie I see a wilde civility.

Praise they that will times past, I joy to see My selfe now live: this age best pleaseth mee.

Who after his transgression doth repent, Is halfe, or altogether, innocent.

Fair daffodils, we weep to see You haste away so soon: As yet the early-rising sun Has not attained his noon.

Next, when I cast mine eyes and see That brave vibration each way free, O how that glittering taketh me!

In sober mornings do not thou rehearse The holy incantation of a verse

Then be not coy, but use your time; And while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry.

Let wealth come in by comely thrift, And not by any sordid shift; 'T is haste Makes waste; Extremes have still their fault. Who gripes too hard the dry and slipp'ry sand, Holds none at all, or little, in his hand.

That age is best which is the first When youth and blood are warmer.

Some asked me where the rubies grew, And nothing I did say; But with my finger pointed to The lips of Julia.

Give house-room to the best; 'tis never known Verture and pleasure both to dwell in one.