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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  257. A Meditation for his Mistress

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Robert Herrick. 1591–1674

257. A Meditation for his Mistress

YOU are a tulip seen to-day, 
But, dearest, of so short a stay 
That where you grew scarce man can say. 
 
You are a lovely July-flower, 
Yet one rude wind or ruffling shower         5
Will force you hence, and in an hour. 
 
You are a sparkling rose i’ th’ bud, 
Yet lost ere that chaste flesh and blood 
Can show where you or grew or stood. 
 
You are a full-spread, fair-set vine,  10
And can with tendrils love entwine, 
Yet dried ere you distil your wine. 
 
You are like balm enclosèd well 
In amber or some crystal shell, 
Yet lost ere you transfuse your smell.  15
 
You are a dainty violet, 
Yet wither’d ere you can be set 
Within the virgin’s coronet. 
 
You are the queen all flowers among; 
But die you must, fair maid, ere long,  20
As he, the maker of this song.