Great Throughts Treasury

"l saw a fly within a bead Of amber cleanly buried."

"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."

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

"Let my muse fail of thy former helps, and only use her inadulterate strength. What's done by me hereafter shall smell of the lamp, not thee."

"Laid out for death, let thy last kindness be with leaves and moss-work for to cover me: and while the wood-nymphs my cold corpse inter, sing thou my dirge, sweet-warbling chorister! For epitaph, in foliage, next write this: Here, here the tomb of Robin Herrick is."

"Let's live with that small pittance which we have; Who covets more is evermore a slave."

"Like will to like; each creature loves his kind. Chaste words proceed still from a bashful mind."

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

"Love, Heart, Loving What is a kiss? Why this, as some approve: The sure, sweet cement, glue, and lime of love. - Robert Herrick"

"Love me little, love me long, is the burden of my song:"

"Lord, Thou hast given me a cell wherein to dwell; and little house, whose humble roof is weather-proof;"

"Many a kiss, both odd and even; many a glance, too, has been sent from out the eye, love's firmament; many a jest told of the keys betraying this night, and locks picked; yet we're not a-Maying!"

"Maybe this world is another planet's hell."

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

"Night makes no difference 'twixt the Priest and Clerk; Joan as my Lady is as good i' th' dark."

"More discontents I never had since I was born, then here; where I have been, and still am sad, in this dull Devon-shire: yet justly too I must confesse; I ne?r invented such ennobled numbers for the Presse, then where I loath?d so much."

"Methought her long, small legs and thighs I with my tendrils did surprise; her belly, buttocks, and her waist by my soft nervelets were embraced;"

"No day is wholly unproductive of good."

"No marigolds yet closed are, No shadows great appeare."

"Now is the time for mirth, nor cheek or tongue be dumb; for with the flowery earth the golden pomp is come."

"None pities him that is in the snare, who warned before, would not beware"

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

"O thou, the drink of gods and angels! Wine"

"O native country, repossessed by thee! For, rather than I'll to the West return, I'll beg of thee first here to have mine urn. Weak I am grown, and must in short time fall; give thou my sacred relics burial."

"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."

"Only a little more I have to write, then I'll give o'er, and bid the world Good-night."

"Only Herrick's left alone, for to number sorrow by their departures hence and die."

"O time that cut'st down all! And scarce leav'st here Memoriall of any men that were."

"'Oor the warm soft side of the resigning yet resisting bride. The kiss of virgins first-fruits of the bed; soft speech, smooth touch, the lips, the maidenhead; these and a thousand sweets could never be so near or dear as thou wast once to me."

"Or a sigh of such as bring cowslips for her covering."

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

"Our present tears here, not our present laughter Are but the handsells of our joys hereafter."

"Small griefs find tongues: full casques are ever found To give, if any, yet but little sound, Deep waters noyselesse are; and this we know, That chiding streams betray small depth below."

"Out did the meate, out did the frolick wine."

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

"Shut not so soon; the dull-eyed night has not yet begun to make a seizure on the light, or to seal up the sun."

"See where she comes, and smell how all the street, breathes vineyards and pomegranates: oh, how sweet! As a fired altar is each stone, perspiring pounded cinnamon. The phoenix-nest, built up of odours, burneth in her breast. Who therein would not consume his soul to ash-heaps in that rich perfume,"

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

"So smooth, so sweet, so silvery, is thy voice as, could they hear, the damned would make no noise, but listen to thee (walking in thy chamber) melting melodious words to lutes of amber."

"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."

"Some ask'd how pearls did grow, and where, Then spoke I to my girle, To part her lips, and showed them there The quarelets of pearl."

"Some asked me where the rubies grew, and nothing I did say; but with my finger pointed to the lips of Julia."

"That having ease me given, with full delight, I leave this light; and take my flight for Heaven."

"Some would know why I so long still doe tarry, and ask why here that I live, and not marry? Thus I those doe oppose; what man would be here, slave to Thrall, if at all he could live free here?"

"Some brittle sticks of Thorne or Briar make me a fire, close by whose living coale I sit, and glow like it."

"Sweet Spirit, comfort me!'"

"Sweet, be not proud of those two eyes which starlike sparkle in their skies; nor be you proud that you can see all hearts your captives, yours yet free."

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

"That happiness does still the longest thrive where joys and griefs have turns alternative."

"Tears are the noble language of eyes, and when true love of words is destitute. The eye by tears speak, while the tongue is mute."