To Virgins, to Make Much of Time
To Virgins, to Make Much of Time
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
1Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
2 Old Time is still a-flying;
3And this same flower that smiles today,
4 To-morrow will be dying.
5The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun,
6 The higher he's a-getting;
7The sooner will his race be run,
8 And nearer he's to setting.
9That age is best, which is the first,
10 When youth and blood are warmer;
11But being spent, the worse, and worst
12 Times still succeed the former.
13Then be not coy, but use your time,
14 And while ye may, go marry;
15For having lost but once your prime,
16 You may for ever tarry.
Publication Start Year
1648
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
3RP 1.200-01.
Rhyme