A Selection from the Lyrical Poems of Robert Herrick

24. TO THE MAIDS, TO WALK ABROAD

     Come, sit we under yonder tree,
     Where merry as the maids we'll be;
     And as on primroses we sit,
     We'll venture, if we can, at wit;
     If not, at draw-gloves we will play,
     So spend some minutes of the day;
     Or else spin out the thread of sands,
     Playing at questions and commands:
     Or tell what strange tricks Love can do,
     By quickly making one of two.
     Thus we will sit and talk, but tell
     No cruel truths of Philomel,
     Or Phillis, whom hard fate forced on
     To kill herself for Demophon;
     But fables we'll relate; how Jove
     Put on all shapes to get a Love;
     As now a satyr, then a swan,
     A bull but then, and now a man.
     Next, we will act how young men woo,
     And sigh and kiss as lovers do;
     And talk of brides; and who shall make
     That wedding-smock, this bridal-cake,
     That dress, this sprig, that leaf, this vine,
     That smooth and silken columbine.
     This done, we'll draw lots who shall buy
     And gild the bays and rosemary;
     What posies for our wedding rings;
     What gloves we'll give, and ribbonings;
     And smiling at our selves, decree
     Who then the joining priest shall be;
     What short sweet prayers shall be said,
     And how the posset shall be made
     With cream of lilies, not of kine,
     And maiden's-blush for spiced wine.
     Thus having talk'd, we'll next commend
     A kiss to each, and so we'll end.