Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden
Robert Herrick (15911674)To the Virgins
G
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles to-day,
To-morrow will be dying.
The higher he’s a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he’s to setting.
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times, still succeed the former.
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry.