Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/309

 ROBERT HERRICK 261 To Blossoms

FAIR pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past But you may stay yet here awhile To blush and gently smile, And go at last.

What' were yc born to be An hour or half's delight, And so to bid good night ?

'Twas pity Nature brought you forth Merely to show your worth And lose you quite.

But you are lovely leaves, where we May read how soon things have Their end, though ne'er so brave:

And after they have shown their pride Like you awhile, they glide Into the grave.

��262 The Primrose

A SK me why I send you here -/jL This sweet Infanta of the year^ Ask me why 1 send to you This primrose, thus bepearl'd with dew ? I will whisper to your ears' The sweets of love are mix'd with tears.

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