Proud world, said I, cease your contest, The Babe whose birth embraves this morn Made his own bed ere He was born. 30 (1646) CORINNA'S GOING A-MAYING ROBERT HERRICK Get up, get up for shame! the blooming morn Upon her wings presents the god unshorn.2 See how Aurora throws her fair Fresh-quilted colors through the air; Get up, sweet slug-a-bed, and see The dew bespangling herb and tree. Each flower has wept and bowed toward the east Above an hour since: yet you not dressed; Whenas a thousand virgins on this day Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and green, And sweet as Flora. Take no care For jewels for your gown or hair: Fear not; the leaves will strew Gems in abundance upon you: Besides, the childhood of the day has kept, 20 Against you come, some orient pearls unwept; Come and receive them while the light Hangs on the dew-locks of the night: And Titan on the eastern hill Retires himself, or else stands still Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying: Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying. I The phoenix was a mythical bird said to live for centuries; at length it would build a nest, set fire to it, and find a new birth after being consumed in the flames. 2 god unshorn. The sun with all his beams. 3 May. May-blossoms (especially hawthorn). 4 Titan. The sun-god. 60 And take the harmless folly of the time! So when or you or I are made And giv'st me, for my bushel sown, Twice ten for one; Thou mak'st my teeming hen to lay Besides my healthful ewes to bear The while the conduits of my kine All these, and better, thou dost send That I should render, for my part, A thankful heart, Which, fired with incense, I resign, But the acceptance-that must be, (1648) ON JULIA'S CLOTHES ROBERT HERRICK 50 [St. Cecilia was the patron saint of music, particularly organ music, and a musical society in London used to celebrate her feast day, November 22, with a choral concert. Dryden wrote this and the following ode for these celebrations; that for 1687 was set to music by the Italian composer Draghi. The poet bases his conception on an old philosophic theory that the atoms of the universe were first set in order by means of musical harmony, and continued to form "the music of the spheres." At the close he unites with this idea the Christian theme of the Day of Judgment, imagining that the sound of the divine Trumpet will be the concluding note of this music of creation. The notion that an angel appeared to Cecilia at her music was a part of the legend of that saint.] From harmony, from heavenly harmony And could not heave her head, The tuneful voice was heard from high, "Arise, ye more than dead!" Then cold and hot and moist and dry3 In order to their stations leap, And Music's power obey. ΙΟ From harmony, from heavenly harmony |