Classic and Contemporary Poetry
UPON A CHERRYSTONE SENT .. TIP OF LADY HEMONIA WALGRAVES EAR, by ROBERT HERRICK Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Lady, I intreate yow weare Last Line: Turnes the beholders into stone. Subject(s): Earrings | ||||||||
Lady I intreate yow weare This little pendant on your eare, Tis not Jewell of great prize Or in respect of Merchandize, But deepe mistery, not the stone Gives it estimation. Take it then and in a viewe See th' Epitome of yow, For what life and death confines Looks through the passage of theis lines Whose incarvemts doe descrye A scripture how yow liue and dye. Read it then before your lipp Comends it to your eares soft tipp And the while yow doe surveye This Janus looking double waye With a teare yow may compare To that yow must be; what yow are. Know time past this cherrystone Had a sweet complexion Skynne and colour, flesh and blood, Daintye tast for ladyes food. All's now fledd saue this alone Poor relique of the beawty, bone, and that soe little we despaire It ever dangling smil'd i' th' aire, Soe must that faire face of yours (As this looking-glasse assures) Faile and scarce leaue to be showne There ever lived such a one. And when an othe rage shall bring Your leane scalp to sensuring Though the Sextons truly sweare Here Jemmonia's titles were In this rag'd Escutcheon Most maye smile, beleiue will none, Or their thought of faith may growe But to this, to think 'twas soe. This lesson you must pearse to' th' truth And know (faire mistris) of yor youth Death with it still walkes along From Mattins to the Euensong, From the Pickaxe to the spade, To the tombe whert't must be layd. Whether in the morne or noone Of yor beawty death comes soone And though his visage hung i' th' eare Doth not to the sight appeare At each warning hees as much Know, to' th' hearing as the touch. Place then this mirror whose briske hue Of lines and colors make them scorne This livery wch the greeke hath worne Let them read this booke and learne Their ayry coulors to discerne, Twixt this and them this Gorgon showne Turnes the beholders into stone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FASHION'S FOLLY by S. W. CHAMBERLAIN EARRINGS by ELEANOR T. MACMILLAN A CHRISTMAS CAROL, SUNG TO THE KING IN THE PRESENCE AT WHITEHALL by ROBERT HERRICK A MEDITATION FOR HIS MISTRESS by ROBERT HERRICK A TERNARIE OF LITTLES, UPON A PIPKIN OF JELLIE by ROBERT HERRICK A THANKSGIVING TO GOD [FOR HIS HOUSE] by ROBERT HERRICK |
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