Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MR. HERRICK HIS DAUGHTER'S DOWRYE, by ROBERT HERRICK



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MR. HERRICK HIS DAUGHTER'S DOWRYE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ere I goe hence and bee noe more
Last Line: Nourish in's breast, a tree of life.


Ere I goe hence and bee noe more
Seene to the world, Ile giue the skore
I owe vnto A female Child,
And that is this, A verse Instylde
My daughters Dowrye; haueing which
I'le leaue thee then Compleatly riche.
Insteade of gould Pearle Rubies Bonds
Longe forfaite pawned diamonds
Or Antique pledges, House or lande,
I give thee this that shall withstande
The blow of Ruine and of Chance.
Theis hurte not thyne Inheritance,
For 'tis Fee simple, and noe rent
Thou Fortune ow'st for tenement.
Howeuer after tymes will praise,
This Portion my Prophetique Bayes
Cannot deliuer vpp to'th rust,
Yett I keepe peacefull in my dust.
As for thy birth, and better seeds
(Those wch must growe to Vertuous deeds)
Thou didst deriue from that old stem
(Loue and Mercie, cherrish them),
Wch like a Vestall Vergine ply
With holye fier least that itt dye.
Growe vpp wth Mylder Lawes to knowe
Att what tyme to say I, or noe,
Lett Manners teach the whear to bee
More Comely flowing: where les free.
Theis bringe thy husband, like to those
Old Coyne's and Meddalls, wee expose
To'th shew, but Neuer part wth; next
As In a more Conspicuous Text
(Thy fore-head) lett therin bee sign'd
The Mayden Candour of thy Mynde:
And vnder it two Chast borne spyes
To barr out bolde Adulteryes,
For through these Optickes, fly the dartes
Of Lust, which setts on fier our hartes.
On eyther side of theis, quicke Eares
Ther must bee plac'd, for season'd feares
Wch sweeten Loue, yett ne're come nighe
The Plague of wilder Jelousie.
Then lett each Cheeke of thyne intice
His soule as to a bedd of spice
Wheare hee may roule, and loose his sence
As in a bedd of Frankensence.
A Lipp Inkyndled wh that Coale
Wth wch Loue Chafes and warmes the soule
Bringe to hym next, and in it shew
Loues Cherries from such fyers growe
And haue their haruest, wch must stand
The Gathering of the Lipp: not hand.
Then vnto theis, bee itt thy care
To cloath thy words in gentle Ayre
That smooth as Oyle, sweet softe and Cleane
As is the childish Bloome of Beane,
Thay may fall downe and stroake as the
Beames of the sunn, the peacefull sea.
White handes as smooth, as Mercies, bring
Hym for his better Cherrishing
That when thou doest his necke Insnare,
Or wth thy wrist or flattering Hayre,
Hee may (a prisoner) ther discrye
Bondage more Loued then Lybertye.
A Nature, soe well form'd, soe wrought
To[o] Calme A tempest, lett bee brought
Wth thee; that should hee but Inclyne
To Roughnes, Claspe hym lyke a Vine,
Or lyke as woole meetes steele, giue way
Vnto the passion, not to stay;
Wrath yf resisted ouer boyles,
Iff not, it dyes, or eles recoyles.
And Lastly, see thou bring to hym
Somewhat peculiar to each lymm,
And I charge thee to bee knowne
By n' other Face, but by thyne owne,
Lett itt (in Loues name) bee keept sleeke
Yett to bee found when hee shall seeke
It, and not Instead of Saint
Giue vpp his worth: to the painte;
For (trust me Girle) shee ouer-does
Who by a double Proxie woes.
But Least I should forgett his bedd
Bee sure thou bringe A Mayden head,
That is A Margarite, wch Lost
Thou bring'st vnto his bedd A frost
Or A colde Poyson, which his blood
Benummes like the forgettfull floode.
Now for some Jewells to supplye
The Wante of Eare rings brauerye,
For puplike Eyes, take onlye theis
Ne're trauylde for beyonde the seas,
Theyre Nobly-home-bread, yett haue price
Beyound the fare-fetch Marchandize.
Obedience, Wise-Distrust, Peace, shy
Distance and sweet Vrbanitie,
Safe Modestie, Lou'd Patience, Feare
Of offending, Temperance, Deare
Constancie, Bashfullnes, and all
The Vertues Lesse, or Cardinall,
Take wth my blessinge; and goe forth
Injewelld wth thy Natiue worthe,
And now yf ther A man bee founde
That Lookes for such prepared grownd,
Lett hym but wth indifferent skill
Soe good a soile bee-stocke and till,
Hee may ere longe haue such a wyfe
Nourish in's breast, a Tree of Life.





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