Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

Robert Herrick (1591–1674)

The Argument of the Hesperides

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.