Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume I. Of Home: of Friendship. 1904. | | | | Poems of Home: IV. Youth | | To the Virgins | | Robert Herrick (1591–1674) |
| | | GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may, | |
| Old Time is still a flying; | |
| And this same flower that smiles to-day | |
| To-morrow will be dying. | |
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| The glorious lamp of Heaven, the sun, | 5 |
| The higher he ’s a-getting, | |
| The sooner will his race be run, | |
| And nearer he ’s to setting. | |
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| The age is best which is the first, | |
| When youth and blood are warmer; | 10 |
| But being spent, the worst and worst | |
| Times still succeed the former. | |
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| Then be not coy, but use your time, | |
| And, while ye may, go marry; | |
| For having lost but once your prime, | 15 |
| You may forever tarry. | | | | |
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