A Selection from the Lyrical Poems of Robert Herrick

229. TO MUSIC, TO BECALM HIS FEVER

     Charm me asleep, and melt me so
     With thy delicious numbers;
     That being ravish'd, hence I go
     Away in easy slumbers.
     Ease my sick head,
     And make my bed,
     Thou Power that canst sever
     From me this ill;—
     And quickly still,
     Though thou not kill
     My fever.

     Thou sweetly canst convert the same
     From a consuming fire,
     Into a gentle-licking flame,
     And make it thus expire.
     Then make me weep
     My pains asleep,
     And give me such reposes,
     That I, poor I,
     May think, thereby,
     I live and die
     'Mongst roses.

     Fall on me like a silent dew,
     Or like those maiden showers,
     Which, by the peep of day, do strew
     A baptism o'er the flowers.
     Melt, melt my pains
     With thy soft strains;
     That having ease me given,
     With full delight,
     I leave this light,
     And take my flight
     For Heaven.