Classic Poem

Like to a ring without a finger,
Or a bell without a ringer,
Like a horse was never ridden,
Or a feast and no guest bidden,
Like a well without a bucket,
Or a rose if no man pluck it,
Just such as these may she be said
That lives, not loves, but dies a maid.

The ring, if worn, the finger decks;
The bell pulled by the ringer speaks;
The horse does ease if he be ridden;
The feast doth please if guest be bidden;
The bucket draws the water forth;
The rose, when plucked, is still most worth:
Such is the virgin in my eyes
That lives, loves, marries ere she dies.

Like a stock not grafted on,
Or like a lute not played upon,
Like a jack without a weight,
Or a bark without a freight,
Like a lock without a key,
Or like a candle in the day,
Just such as these may she be said
That lives, not loves, but dies a maid.

The graffed stock doth bear best fruit;
There's music in the fingered lute;
The weight doth make the clock go ready;
The freight doth make the bark go steady;
The key the lock doth open right;
A candle's useful in the night:
Such is the virgin in mine eyes
That lives, loves, marries ere she dies.

Like a call without a Non-sir,
Or a question and no answer,
Like a ship was never rigged,
Or a mine was never digged,
Like a wound without a tent,
Or a box without a scent,
Just such as these may she be said
That lives, not loves, but dies a maid.

The Non-sir doth obey the call;
The question answered pleaseth all;
Who rigs a ship sails with the wind;
Who digs a mine doth treasure find;
The wound by wholesome tent hath ease;
The box perfumed the senses please:
Such is the virgin in mine eyes
That lives, loves, marries ere she dies.

Like marrow-bone was never broken,
Or commendation and no token,
Like a fort and none to win it,
Or like the moon and no man in it,
Like a school without a teacher,
Or like a pulpit and no preacher,
Just such as these may she be said
That lives, not loves, but dies a maid.

The broken marrow-bone is sweet;
The token doth adorn the greet;
There's triumph in the fort being won;
The man rides glorious in the moon;
The school is by the teacher skilled;
The pulpit by the preacher filled:
Such is the virgin in mine eyes
That lives, loves, marries ere she dies.

Like a cage without a bird,
Or a thing too long deferred,
Like the gold was never tried,
Or the ground unoccupied,
Like a house that's not possessed,
Or the book was never pressed,
Just such as these may she be said
That lives, ne'er loves, but dies a maid.

The bird in cage doth sweetly sing;
Due season proffers everything;
The gold that's tried from dross is pured;
There's profit in the ground manured;
The house is by possession graced;
The book, when pressed, is then embraced:
Such is the virgin in mine eyes
That lives, loves, marries ere she dies.