Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying, And this same flower that smiles to-day To-morrow will be dying. – Robert Herrick To the Virgins to Make Much of Time
Each must in virtue strive for to excel; That man lives twice that lives the first life well. – Robert Herrick Virtue
Conquer we shall, but we must first contend; ‘Tis not the fight that crowns us, but the end. – Robert Herrick The End
Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score; Then to that twenty, add a hundred more: A thousand to that hundred: so kiss on, To make that thousand up a million. Treble that million, and when that is done, Let’s kiss afresh, as when we first begun. – Robert Herrick To Anthea: Ah, My Anthea!
Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt. Nothing’s so hard but search will find it out. – Robert Herrick Seek and Find
Thus times do shift; each thing his turn does hold: New things succeed, as former things grow old. – Robert Herrick Ceremonies for Candlemas Eve
I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers: Of April, May, of June, and July flowers. I sing of Maypoles, Hock-carts, wassails, wakes, Of bridegrooms, brides, and of their bridal cakes. – Robert Herrick The Argument of his Book
Fair Daffodils, we weep to see You haste away so soon; As yet the early-rising sun Has not attain’d his noon. Stay, stay, Until the hasting day Has run But to the even-song; And, having pray’d together, we Will go with you along. – Robert Herrick To Daffodils
The body is the soul’s poor house or home, Whose ribs the laths are and whose flesh the loam. – Robert Herrick The Body
He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Submits his neck into a second yoke. – Robert Herrick To Love
Bid me love, and I will give A loving heart to thee. – Robert Herrick To Anthea, who may Command him Anything.
Know when to speak; for many times it brings Danger to give the best advice to kings. – Robert Herrick Caution in Counsel
If well thou hast begun, go on fore-right; It is the end that crowns us, not the fight. – Robert Herrick The End
What is a kiss? Why this, as some approve: The sure, sweet cement, glue, and lime of love. – Robert Herrick A Kiss
