Hesperides, or, The works both humane & divine of Robert Herrick, Esq.

The parting Verse, or charge to his supposed Wife when he travelled.

GO hence, and with this parting kisse, Which joyns two souls, remember this; Though thou beest young, kind, soft, and faire, And may'st draw thousands with a haire: Yet let these glib temptations be Furies to others, Friends to me. Looke upon all; and though on fire Thou set'st their hearts, yet chaste desire Steere Thee to me; and thinke (me gone) In having all, that thou hast none. Nor so immured wo'd I have Thee live, as dead and in thy grave; But walke abroad, yet wisely well Stand for my comming, Sentinell.

And think (as thou do'st walke the street) Me, or my shadow thou do'st meet. I know a thousand greedy eyes Will on thy Feature tirannize, In my short absence; yet behold Them like some Picture, or some Mould Fashion'd like Thee; which though' tave eares And eyes, it neither sees or heares. Gifts will be sent, and Letters, which Are the expressions of that itch, And salt, which frets thy Suters; fly Both, lest thou lose thy liberty: For that once lost, thou't fall to one, Then prostrate to a million. But if they wooe thee, do thou say, (As that chaste Queen of Ithaca Did to her suitors) this web done (Undone as oft as done) I'm wonne; I will not urge Thee, for I know, Though thou art young, thou canst say no, And no again, and so deny, Those thy Lust-burning Incubi. Let them enstile Thee Fairest fair, The Pearle of Princes, yet despairè That so thou art, because thou must Believe, Love speaks it not, but Lust; And this their Flatt'rie do's commend Thee chiefly for their pleasures end. I am not jealous of thy Faith, Or will be; for the Axiome saith, He that doth suspect, do's haste A gentle mind to be unchaste. No, live thee to thy selfe, and keep Thy thoughts as cold, as is thy sleep: And let thy dreames be only fed With this, that I am in thy bed.

And thou then turning in that Sphere, Waking shalt find me sleeping there. But yet if boundlesse Lust must skaile Thy Fortress, and will needs prevaile; And wildly force a paslage in, Banish consent, and 'tis no sinne Of Thine; so Lucrece fell, and the Chaste Syracusian Cyane. So Medullina fell, yet none Of these had imputation For the least trespasse; 'cause the mind Here was not with the act combin'd. The body sins not, 'tis the Will That makes the Action, good, or ill. And if thy fall sho'd this way come, Triumph in such a Martirdome. I will not over-long enlarge To thee, this my religious charge. Take this compression, so by this Means I shall know what other kisse Is mixt with mine; and truly know, Returning, if't be mine or no: Keepe it till then; and now my Spouse, For my wisht safety pay thy vowes, And prayers to Venus; if it please The Great-blew-ruler of the Seas; Not many full-fac't-moons shall waine, Lean-horn'd, before I come again As one triumphant; when I find In thee, all faith of Woman-kind. Nor wo'd I have thee thinke, that Thou Had'st power thy selfe to keep this vow; But having scapt temptations shelfe, Know vertue taught thee, not thy selfe.