The Hesperides & Noble Numbers/Hesperides/The Argument of His Book

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118915The Hesperides & Noble NumbersHesperides
The Argument of His Book
1898Robert Herrick

1. THE ARGUMENT OF HIS BOOK.

     
I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds and bowers,
Of April, May, of June and July-flowers;
I sing of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides and of their bridal cakes;
I write of youth, of love, and have access
By these to sing of cleanly wantonness;
I sing of dews, of rains, and piece by piece
Of balm, of oil, of spice and ambergris;
I sing of times trans-shifting, and I write
How roses first came red and lilies white;
I write of groves, of twilights, and I sing
The Court of Mab, and of the Fairy King;
I write of hell; I sing (and ever shall)
Of heaven, and hope to have it after all.

Hock-cart, the last cart from the harvest-field.
Wakes, village festivals, properly on the dedication-day of a church.
Ambergris, 'grey amber,' much used in perfumery.