Classic Poem

Ere I goe hence and bee noe more
Seene to the world, Ile giue the skore
I owe vnto A female Child,
And that is this, A uerse Instylde
My daughters Dowrye; haueing which
Ile leaue thee then Compleatly riche
Insteade of gould Pearle Rubies Bonds
Longe forfaite pawnèd diamonds
Or Antique pledges, House or Lande
I giue thee this that shall with stande
The blow of Ruine and of Chance
Theis hurte not thyne Inheritance
for tis ffee simple, and noe rent
Thou Fortune ow'st for tenement
how euer after tymes will praise,
This Portion my Prophetique Bayes
Cannot deliuer vpp to'th rust
Yett I keepe peacefull in my dust
As for thy birth, and better seeds
(Those which must growe to Vertuous deeds)
Thou didst deriue from that old steem
(Loue, Peace, and Mercie, cherrish them)
which like a Vestall Virgine ply
with holye fier least that itt dye
Growe vpp with Mylder Lawes to knowe
Att what tyme to say I, or noe,
Lett Manners teach the whear to bee
More Comely flowing: where les free
Theis bringe thy husband, like to those
Old Coynes and Meddals, wee expose
To'th shew, but Neuer part with; next
As In a more Conspicuous Text
(Thy fore=head) lett therin bee sign'd
The Mayden Candour of thy Mynde:
And vnder it two Chast borne spyes
To barr out, bolde Adulteryes
ffor through those Optickes, fly the dartes
Of Lust, which setts on fier our hartes
On eyther side of theis, quicke Eares
Ther must bee plac'd, for season'd feares
which sweeten Loue, yett ner'e come nighe
The Plague of wilder Jelousie
Then lett each Cheeke of thyne intice
his soule as to a bedd of spice
wheare hee may roule, and loose his sence
As in a bedd of Frankensence
A Lipp Inkyndled with that Coale
with which Loue Chafes and warmes the soule
Bringe to hym next, and in it shew
Loues Cherries from such fyers growe
And haue their haruest, which must stand
The Gathering of the Lipp: not hand
Then vnto theis, bee it thy Care
To cloath thy words in gentle Ayre
That smooth as Oyle, sweet softe and Cleane
As is the Childish Bloome of Beane
Thay may fall downe and stroake as the
Beames of the sunn, the peacefull sea
White handes as smooth, as Mercies, bring
hym for his better Cherrishing
That when thou doest his necke Insnare
Or with thy wrist or flattering Hayre
hee may (a prisoner) ther discrye
Bondage more Loued then Lybertye
A Nature, soe well form'd, soe wrought
Too Calme A tempest lett bee brought
with thee; that should hee but Inclyne
To Roughnes, Claspe hym lyke a Vine
Or lyke as woole meetes steele, giue way
Vnto the passion, not to stay;
Wrath yf resisted ouer boyles
Iff not, it dyes, or eles recoyles
And Lastly, see thou bring to hym
Somewhat peculiar to each lymm
And I charge thee to bee knowne
By n' other Face, but by thyne owne,
Lett itt (in Loues name) bee keept sleeke
Yett to bee found when hee shall seeke
It, and not Instead of Saint
Giue vpp his worshipp to the painte
ffor (trust me Girle) shee ouer-does
who by a double Proxie woes
But Least I should forgett his bedd
Bee sure thou bringe A Mayden head
That is A Margarite, which Lost
Thou bring'st vnto his bedd A frost
Or A colde Poyson, which his blood
Benummes like the forgettfull floode
Now for some Jewells to supplye
The Wante of Eare rings brauerye
ffor puplike Eyes, take onlye theis
Ne're trauylde for beyonde the Seas,
Theyre Nobly=home=bread, yett haue price
beyound the fare-fetch Marchandize
Obedience, Wise=Distrust, Peace; shey
Distance, and sweet Vrbanitie
Safe Modestie, Lou'd Patience, feare
Of offending, Temperance, Deare
Constancie, Bashfullnes, and all
The Vertues Lesse, or Cardinall
Take with my blessinge; and goe forth
In Jewelld, with thy Natiue worthe,
And now yf ther A man bee founde
That Lookes for such prepared grownd
Lett hym but with indifferent skill
Soe good a soile bee=stocke and till
Hee may ere longe haue such a wyfe
Nourish in's breast, a Tree of Life


finis Rob:Hericke