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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  To Anthea

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

To Anthea

By Robert Herrick (1591–1674)
 
(Songs from Hesperides, 1648)

LET’S call for Hymen, if agreed thou art;
Delays in love but crucify the heart.
Love’s thorny tapers yet neglected lie:
Speak thou the word, they’ll kindly by-and-bye.
The nimble hours woo us on to wed,        5
And Genius waits to have us both to bed.
Behold, for us the naked Graces stay
With maunds of roses for to strew the way:
Besides, the most religious prophet stands
Ready to join, as well our hearts as hands.        10
Juno yet smiles; but if she chance to chide,
Ill luck ’twill bode to th’ bridegroom and the bride.
Tell me, Anthea, dost thou fondly dread
The loss of that we call a maidenhead?
Come, I’ll instruct thee. Know, the vestal fire        15
Is not by marriage quench’d, but flames the higher.