A Selection from the Lyrical Poems of Robert Herrick

78. TO GROVES

     Ye silent shades, whose each tree here
     Some relique of a saint doth wear;
     Who for some sweet-heart's sake, did prove
     The fire and martyrdom of Love:—
     Here is the legend of those saints
     That died for love, and their complaints;
     Their wounded hearts, and names we find
     Encarved upon the leaves and rind.
     Give way, give way to me, who come
     Scorch'd with the self-same martyrdom!
     And have deserved as much, Love knows,
     As to be canonized 'mongst those
     Whose deeds and deaths here written are
     Within your Greeny-kalendar.
     —By all those virgins' fillets hung
     Upon!  your boughs, and requiems sung
     For saints and souls departed hence,
     Here honour'd still with frankincense;
     By all those tears that have been shed,
     As a drink-offering to the dead;
     By all those true-love knots, that be
     With mottoes carved on every tree;
     By sweet Saint Phillis!  pity me;
     By dear Saint Iphis!  and the rest
     Of all those other saints now blest,
     Me, me forsaken,—here admit
     Among your myrtles to be writ;
     That my poor name may have the glory
     To live remember'd in your story.