English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 209. To the Virgins |
| | | Robert Herrick (1591–1674) |
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| GATHER ye rose-buds 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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| That age is best which is the first, | |
| When youth and blood are warmer; | 10 |
| But being spent, the worse, 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 for ever tarry. | |
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