lyrical poems-第4部分

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n　the　words　of　a　poet　greater　than　himself；　is　of　that　quality　which　'adds　sunlight　to　daylight'；　which　is　able　to　'make　the　happy　happier。'　　He　will；　it　may　be　hoped；　carry　to　the　many　Englands　across　the　seas；　east　and　west；　pictures　of　English　life　exquisite　in　truth　and　grace：to　the　more　fortunate　inhabitants　（as　they　must　perforce　hold　themselves！）　of　the　old　country；　her　image；　as　she　was　two　centuries　since；　will　live　in　the　'golden　apples'　of　the　West；　offered　to　us　by　this　sweet　singer　of　Devonshire。　　We　have　greater　poets；　not　a　few；　none　more　faithful　to　nature　as　he　saw　her；　none　more　perfect　in　his　art；none；　more　companionable：

F。　T。　P。　Dec。　1876



**　C　H　R　Y　S　O　M　E　L　A　**

A　SELECTION　FROM　THE　LYRICAL　POEMS　OF　ROBERT　HERRICK


**　PREFATORY　**


*1*

THE　ARGUMENT　OF　HIS　BOOK

I　sing　of　brooks；　of　blossoms；　birds；　and　bowers；　Of　April；　May；　of　June；　and　July…flowers；　I　sing　of　May…poles；　hock…carts；　wassails；　wakes；　Of　bride…grooms；　brides；　and　of　their　bridal…cakes。　I　write　of　Youth；　of　Love；and　have　access　By　these；　to　sing　of　cleanly　wantonness；　I　sing　of　dews；　of　rains；　and；　piece　by　piece；　Of　balm；　of　oil；　of　spice；　and　ambergris。　I　sing　of　times　trans…shifting；　and　I　write　How　roses　first　came　red；　and　lilies　white。　I　write　of　groves；　of　twilights；　and　I　sing　The　court　of　Mab；　and　of　the　Fairy　King。　I　write　of　Hell；　I　sing；　and　ever　shall　Of　Heaven；and　hope　to　have　it　after　all。


*2*

TO　HIS　MUSE

Whither；　mad　maiden；　wilt　thou　roam？　Far　safer　'twere　to　stay　at　home；　Where　thou　mayst　sit；　and　piping；　please　The　poor　and　private　cottages。

Since　cotes　and　hamlets　best　agree　With　this　thy　meaner　minstrelsy。　There　with　the　reed　thou　mayst　express　The　shepherd's　fleecy　happiness；　And　with　thy　Eclogues　intermix：　Some　smooth　and　harmless　Bucolics。　There；　on　a　hillock；　thou　mayst　sing　Unto　a　handsome　shepherdling；　Or　to　a　girl；　that　keeps　the　neat；　With　breath　more　sweet　than　violet。　There；　there；　perhaps　such　lines　as　these　May　take　the　simple　villages；　But　for　the　court；　the　country　wit　Is　despicable　unto　it。　Stay　then　at　home；　and　do　not　go　Or　fly　abroad　to　seek　for　woe；　Contempts　in　courts　and　cities　dwell　No　critic　haunts　the　poor　man's　cell；　Where　thou　mayst　hear　thine　own　lines　read　By　no　one　tongue　there　censured。　That　man's　unwise　will　search　for　ill；　And　may　prevent　it；　sitting　still。


*3*

WHEN　HE　WOULD　HAVE　HIS　VERSES　READ

In　sober　mornings；　do　not　thou　rehearse　The　holy　incantation　of　a　verse；　But　when　that　men　have　both　well　drunk；　and　fed；　Let　my　enchantments　then　be　sung　or　read。　When　laurel　spirts　i'　th'　fire；　and　when　the　hearth　Smiles　to　itself；　and　gilds　the　roof　with　mirth；　When　up　the　Thyrse　is　raised；　and　when　the　sound　Of　sacred　orgies；　flies　A　round；　A　round；　When　the　rose　reigns；　and　locks　with　ointments　shine；　Let　rigid　Cato　read　these　lines　of　mine。


*4*

TO　HIS　BOOK

Make　haste　away；　and　let　one　be　A　friendly　patron　unto　thee；　Lest；　rapt　from　hence；　I　see　thee　lie　Torn　for　the　use　of　pastery；　Or　see　thy　injured　leaves　serve　well　To　make　loose　gowns　for　mackarel；　Or　see　the　grocers；　in　a　trice；　Make　hoods　of　thee　to　serve　out　spice。


*5*

TO　HIS　BOOK

Take　mine　advice；　and　go　not　near　Those　faces；　sour　as　vinegar；　For　these；　and　nobler　numbers；　can　Ne'er　please　the　supercilious　man。


*6*

TO　HIS　BOOK

Be　bold；　my　Book；　nor　be　abash'd；　or　fear　The　cutting　thumb…nail；　or　the　brow　severe；　But　by　the　Muses　swear；　all　here　is　good；　If　but　well　read；　or　ill　read；　understood。


*7*

TO　MISTRESS　KATHARINE　BRADSHAW；　THE　LOVELY；　THAT　CROWNED　HIM　WITH　LAUREL

My　Muse　in　meads　has　spent　her　many　hours　Sitting；　and　sorting　several　sorts　of　flowers；　To　make　for　others　garlands；　and　to　set　On　many　a　head　here；　many　a　coronet。　But　amongst　all　encircled　here；　not　one　Gave　her　a　day　of　coronation；　Till　you；　sweet　mistress；　came　and　interwove　A　laurel　for　her；　ever　young　as　Love。　You　first　of　all　crown'd　her；　she　must；　of　due；　Render　for　that；　a　crown　of　life　to　you。


*8*

TO　HIS　VERSES

What　will　ye；　my　poor　orphans；　do；　When　I　must　leave　the　world　and　you；　Who'll　give　ye　then　a　sheltering　shed；　Or　credit　ye；　when　I　am　dead？　Who'll　let　ye　by　their　fire　sit；　Although　ye　have　a　stock　of　wit；　Already　coin'd　to　pay　for　it？　I　cannot　tell：　　unless　there　be　Some　race　of　old　humanity　Left；　of　the　large　heart　and　long　hand；　Alive；　as　noble　Westmorland；　Or　gallant　Newark；　which　brave　two　May　fost'ring　fathers　be　to　you。　If　not；　expect　to　be　no　less　Ill　used；　than　babes　left　fatherless。


*9*

NOT　EVERY　DAY　FIT　FOR　VERSE

'Tis　not　ev'ry　day　that　I　Fitted　am　to　prophesy：　No；　but　when　the　spirit　fills　The　fantastic　pannicles；　Full　of　fire；　then　I　write　As　the　Godhead　doth　indite。　Thus　enraged；　my　lines　are　hurl'd；　Like　the　Sibyl's；　through　the　world：　Look　how　next　the　holy　fire　Either　slakes；　or　doth　retire；　So　the　fancy　cools：till　when　That　brave　spirit　comes　again。


*10*

HIS　PRAYER　TO　BEN　JONSON

When　I　a　verse　shall　make；　Know　I　have　pray'd　thee；　For　old　religion's　sake；　Saint　Ben；　to　aid　me

Make　the　way　smooth　for　me；　When；　I；　thy　Herrick；　Honouring　thee　on　my　knee　Offer　my　Lyric。

Candles　I'll　give　to　thee；　And　a　new　altar；　And　thou；　Saint　Ben；　shalt　be　Writ　in　my　psalter。


*11*

HIS　REQUEST　TO　JULIA

Julia；　if　I　chance　to　die　Ere　I　print　my　poetry；　I　most　humbly　thee　desire　To　commit　it　to　the　fire：　Better　'twere　my　book　were　dead；　Than　to　live　not　perfected。


*12*

TO　HIS　BOOK

Go　thou　forth；　my　book；　though　late；　Yet　be　timely　fortunate。　It　may　chance　good　luck　may　send　Thee　a　kinsman　or　a　friend；　That　may　harbour　thee；　when　I　With　my　fates　neglected　lie。　If　thou　know'st　not　where　to　dwell；　See；　the　fire's　by。Farewell！


*13*

HIS　POETRY　HIS　PILLAR

Only　a　little　more　I　have　to　write：　Then　I'll　give　o'er；　And　bid　the　world　good…night。

'Tis　but　a　flying　minute；　That　I　must　stay；　Or　linger　in　it：　And　then　I　must　away。

O　Time；　that　cut'st　down　all；　And　scarce　leav'st　here　Memorial　Of　any　men　that　were；

How　many　lie　forgot　In　vaults　beneath；　And　piece…meal　rot　Without　a　fame　in　death？

Behold　this　living　stone　I　rear　for　me；　Ne'er　to　be　thrown　Down；　envious　Time；　by　thee。

Pillars　let　some　set　up　If　so　they　please；　Here　is　my　hope；　And　my　Pyramides。


*14*

TO　HIS　BOOK

If　hap　it　must；　that　I　must　see　thee　lie　Absyrtus…like；　all　torn　confusedly；　With　solemn　tears；　and　with　much　grief　of　heart；　I'll　recollect　thee；　weeping；　part　by　part；　And　having　wash'd　thee；　close　thee　in　a　chest　With　spice；　that　done；　I'll　leave　thee　to　thy　rest。


*15*

UPON　HIMSELF

Thou　shalt　not　all　die；　for　while　Love's　fire　shines　Upon　his　altar；　men　shall　read　thy　lines；　And　learn'd　musicians　shall；　to　honour　Herrick's　Fame；　and　his　name；　both　set　and　sing　his　lyrics。

To　his　book's　end　this　last　line　he'd　have　placed：　Jocund　his　Muse　was；　but　his　Life　was　chaste。


**　IDYLLICA　**


*16*

THE　COUNTRY　LIFE：

TO　THE　HONOURED　MR　ENDYMION　PORTER；　GROOM　OF　THE　BED…CHAMBER　TO　HIS　MAJESTY

Sweet　country　life；　to　such　unknown；　Whose　lives　are　others'；　not　their　own！　But　serving　courts　and　cities；　be　Less　happy；　less　enjoying　thee。　Thou　never　plough'st　the　ocean's　foam　To　seek　and　bring　rough　pepper　home：　Nor　to　the　Eastern　Ind　dost　rove　To　bring　from　thence　the　scorched　clove：　Nor；　with　the　loss　of　thy　loved　rest；　Bring'st　home　the　ingot　from　the　West。　No；　thy　ambition's　master…piece　Flies　no　thought　higher　than　a　fleece：　Or　how　to　pay　thy　hinds；　and　clear　All　scores：　and　so　to　end　the　year：　But　walk'st　about　thine　own　dear　bounds；　Not　envying　others'　larger　grounds：　For　well　thou　know'st；　'tis　not　th'　extent　Of　land　makes　life；　but　sweet　content。　When　now　the　cock　（the　ploughman's　horn）　Calls　forth　the　lily…wristed　morn；　Then　to　thy　corn…fields　thou　dost　go；　Which　though　well　soil'd；　yet　thou　dost　know　That　the　best　compost　for　the　lands　Is　the　wise　master's　feet；　and　hands。　There　at　the　plough　thou　find'st　thy　team；　With　a　hind　whistling　there　to　them：　And　cheer'st　them　up；　by　singing　how　The　kingdom's　portion　is　the　plough。　This　done；　then　to　th'　enamell'd　meads　Thou　go'st；　and　as　thy　foot　there　treads；　Thou　seest　a　present　God…like　power　Imprinted　in　each　herb　and　flower：　And　smell'st　the　breath　of　great…eyed　kine；　Sweet　as　the　blossoms　of　the　vine。　Here　thou　behold'st　thy　large　sleek　neat　Unto　the　dew…laps　up　in　meat：　And；　as　thou　look'st；　the　wanton　steer；　The　heifer；　cow；　and　ox　draw　near；　To　make　a　pleasing　pastime　there。　These　seen；　thou　go'st　to　view　thy　flocks　Of　sheep；　safe　from　the　wolf　and　fox；　And　find'st　their　bellies　there　as　full　Of　short　sweet　grass；　as　backs　with　wool：　And　leav'st　them；　as　they　feed　and　fill；　A　shepherd　piping　on　a　hill。

For　sports；　for　pageantry；　and　plays；　Thou　hast　thy　eves；　and　holydays：　On　which　the　young　men　and　maids　meet；　To　exercise　their　dancing　feet：　Tripping　the　comely　country　Round；　With　daffadils　and　daisies　crown'd。　Thy　wakes；　thy　quintels；　here　thou　hast；　Thy　May…poles　too　with　garlands　graced；　Thy　Morris…dance；　thy　Whitsun…ale；　Thy　shearing…feast；　which　never　fail。　Thy　harvest　home；　thy　wassail　bowl；　That's　toss'd　up　after　Fox　i'　th'　hole：　Thy　mummeries；　thy　Twelve…tide　kings　And　queens；　thy　Christmas　revellings：　Thy　nut…brown　mirth；　thy　russet　wit；　And　no　man　pays　too　dear　for　it。　To　these；　thou　hast　thy　times　to　go　And　trace　the　hare　i'　th'　treacherous　snow：　Thy　witty　wiles　to　draw；　and　get　The　lark　into　the　trammel　net：　Thou　hast　thy　cockrood；　and　thy　glade　To　take　the　precious　pheasant　made：　Thy　lime…twigs；　snares；　and　pit…falls　then　To　catch　the　pilfering　birds；　not　men。

O　happy　life！　　if　that　their　good　The　husbandmen　but　understood！　Who　all　the　day　themselves　do　please；　And　younglings；　with　such　sports　as　these：　And　lying　down；　have　nought　t'　affright　Sweet　Sleep；　that　makes　more　short　the　night。　CAETERA　DESUNT


*17*

TO　PHILLIS；　TO　LOVE　AND　LIVE　WITH　HIM

Live；　live　with　me；　and　thou　shalt　see　The　pleasures　I'll　prepare　for　thee：　What　sweets　the　country　can　afford　Shall　bless　thy　bed；　and　bless　thy　board。　The　soft　sweet　moss　shall　be　thy　bed；　With　crawling　woodbine　over…spread：　By　which　the　silver…shedding　streams　Shall　gently　melt　thee　into　dreams。　Thy　clothing　next；　shall　be　a　gown　Made　of　the　fleeces'　purest　down。　The　tongu