| Andrew Macphail, comp. The Book of Sorrow. 1916. | | | XI. O Come Quickly
A Contemplation upon Flowers | | By Henry King (1592–1669) |
| | | BRAVE flowers! that I could gallant it like you, | |
| And be as little vain! | |
| You come abroad, and make a harmless show, | |
| And to your beds of earth again! | |
| You are not proud! You know your birth; | 5 |
| For your embroidered garments are from earth! | |
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| You do obey your months and times; but I | |
| Would have it ever Spring! | |
| My fate would know no Winter, never die, | |
| Nor think of such a thing! | 10 |
| O, that I could my bed of earth but view, | |
| And smile, and look as cheerfully as you! | |
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| O, teach me to see Death, and not to fear; | |
| But rather to take truce! | |
| How often have I seen you at a bier, | 15 |
| And there look fresh and spruce! | |
| You fragrant flowers then teach me, that my breath, | |
| Like yours, may sweeten and perfume my death! | | | | |
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