Come, Sion's daughters! come away, That crown his mother set on him, And in his heart contentment had. FROM A POEM ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS MARRIAGE DAY. LORD, living here are we As fast united yet, As when our hands and hearts by Thee Together first were knit. And in a thankful song Now sing we will Thy praise, Our loving, as our days. The frowardness that springs From our corrupted kind, Or from those troublous outward things, Permit not thou, O Lord, Our constant love to shake; Or to disturb our true accord. FROM A HYMN FOR A WIDOWER. THE voice which I did more esteem More comfortable than the day: But what I once enjoyed in them, Shall seem hereafter as a dream. PRAYER FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, WRITTEN IN NEWGATE. THEREOF be therefore heedful, Them favor not the less, Supply with all things needful And when Thou me shalt gather, When I to them must never Speak more with tongue or pen, And they be barred forever To see my face again Preserve them from each folly, Let not this world bewitch them And whilst we live together, Help to prepare each other, So just, so faithful-hearted, We may all meet in Thee. ROBERT HERRICK. ROBERT HERRICK was born in London, in 1591. He was educated at Cambridge, and was presented by Charles the First to the vicarage of Dean Prior, in Devonshire, in 1629; from which, during the troubles of the times, he was ejected. The time of his death is unknown. The works of Herrick do not offer much serious poetry for choice, but what little there is is worth preserving. He is known and admired as the writer of gay Anacreontic songs, for which, in his ripe age, he prayed for absolution in the following verses: FOR these my unbaptizéd rhymes, That one of all the rest shall be LITANY то THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN the hour of my distress, When temptations me oppress, And when I my sins confess, Sweet Spirit, comfort me. When I lie within my bed, Sick at heart, and sick at head, And with doubts discomforted, Sweet Spirit, comfort me. When the house doth sigh and weep, When the passing bell doth toll, Come to fright a parting soul, Sweet Spirit, comfort me. When God knows I'm tossed about, Yet before the glass be out, Sweet Spirit, comfort me. When the tapers now burn blue, And that number more than true, When the priest his last hath prayed, 'Cause my speech is now decayed, Sweet Spirit, comfort me. When the tempter me pursueth With the sins of all my youth, And half damns me with untruth, When the flames and hellish cries Fright mine ears, and fright mine eyes, And all terrors me surprise, Sweet Spirit, comfort me. When the judgment is revealed, And that opened which was sealed, TO BLOSSOMS. FAIR pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? But you may stay yet here awhile What, were ye born to be An hour or half's delight, But ye are lovely leaves, where we And after they have shown their pride, FAIR daffodils, we weep to see You haste away so soon; As yet the early rising sun Has not attained its noon. Until the hasting day But to the even-song: And having prayed together, we Will go with you along. We have short time to stay as you; As your hours do; and dry Away Like to the summer-rain, Or as the pearls of morning-dew, Ne'er to be found again. |