Delight in Disorder

Delight in Disorder

Original Text
Robert Herrick, Hesperides (London: for John Williams and F. Eglesfield to be sold by Thomas Hunt, 1648), of which a section called "His Noble Numbers: or, his Pious Pieces" has a separate title-page dated 1647. Facs. edn. Menston: Scolar, 1969. PR 3512 H4 1648A ROBA
1A sweet disorder in the dress
2Kindles in clothes a wantonness;
3A lawn about the shoulders thrown
4Into a fine distraction;
5An erring lace, which here and there
6Enthrals the crimson stomacher;
7A cuff neglectful, and thereby
8Ribands to flow confusedly;
9A winning wave, deserving note,
10In the tempestuous petticoat;
11A careless shoe-string, in whose tie
12I see a wild civility:
13Do more bewitch me, than when art
14Is too precise in every part.

Notes

2] wantonness: gaiety, but no doubt with other suggestions. Back to Line
3] lawn: fine linen resembling cambric. Back to Line
5] stomacher: embroidered vest. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1648
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
3RP 1.197.
Form
couplets