His Prayer to Ben Jonson

Herrick, Robert (1591 - 1674)

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

1When I a verse shall make,

2Know I have pray'd thee,

3For old religion's sake,

4Saint Ben to aid me.

5Make the way smooth for me,

6When I, thy Herrick,

7Honouring thee, on my knee

8Offer my lyric.

9Candles I'll give to thee,

10And a new altar,

11And thou, Saint Ben, shalt be

12Writ in my psalter.

Publication Start Year

1648

RPO poem Editors

N. J. Endicott

RPO Edition

3RP 1.204.

Rhyme

abab