To His Book
Robert Herrick. Prefixed to ‘Hesperides.’ 1648.
While thou didst keep thy candor undefiled,
Dearly I loved thee, as my first-born child;
But when I sent thee wantonly to roam
From house to house, and never stay at home;
I brake my bonds of love, and bade thee go,
Regardless whether well thou sped’st or no,
On with thy fortunes then, whate’er they be;
If good I’ll smile, if bad I’ll sigh for thee.