to becalm his Fever
by
(
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 the silent dew,
Or like those maiden showers
Which, by the peep of day, do strew
A baptim 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.
Robert Herrick (1591-1674), poet and cleric, was born and raised in London; he graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1617 and was ordained in 1623. Herrick was one of a London literary circle who were strongly influenced by Ben Jonson (they were known as the "Sons of Ben"), and who revived the spirit of the ancient classic lyric. He is perhaps best known as the author of the line "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."
