

Village Scene with Dance Around the May Pole.

Pieter Brueghel, the Elder, 1634.





CORINNA'S GOING A-MAYING.

by Robert Herrick



G ET up, get up for shame, the blooming morn

Upon her wings presents the god unshorn.

See how Aurora throws her fair

Fresh-quilted colours through the air :

Get up, sweet slug-a-bed, and see

The dew bespangling herb and tree.

Each flower has wept and bow'd toward the east

Above an hour since : yet you not dress'd ;

Nay ! not so much as out of bed?

When all the birds have matins said

And sung their thankful hymns, 'tis sin,

Nay, profanation to keep in,

Whereas a thousand virgins on this day

Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch in May.



Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen

To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and green,

And sweet as Flora. Take no care

For jewels for your gown or hair :

Fear not ; the leaves will strew

Gems in abundance upon you :

Besides, the childhood of the day has kept,

Against you come, some orient pearls unwept ;

Come and receive them while the light

Hangs on the dew-locks of the night :

And Titan on the eastern hill

Retires himself, or else stands still

Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying :

Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying.



Come, my Corinna, come ; and, coming, mark

How each field turns a street, each street a park

Made green and trimm'd with trees : see how

Devotion gives each house a bough

Or branch : each porch, each door ere this

An ark, a tabernacle is,

Made up of white-thorn neatly interwove ;

As if here were those cooler shades of love.

Can such delights be in the street

And open fields and we not see't ?

Come, we'll abroad ; and let's obey

The proclamation made for May :

And sin no more, as we have done, by staying ;

But, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.



There's not a budding boy or girl this day

But is got up, and gone to bring in May.

A deal of youth, ere this, is come

Back, and with white-thorn laden home.

Some have despatch'd their cakes and cream

Before that we have left to dream :

And some have wept, and woo'd, and plighted troth,

And chose their priest, ere we can cast off sloth :

Many a green-gown has been given ;

Many a kiss, both odd and even :

Many a glance too has been sent

From out the eye, love's firmament ;

Many a jest told of the keys betraying

This night, and locks pick'd, yet we're not a-Maying.



Come, let us go while we are in our prime ;

And take the harmless folly of the time.

We shall grow old apace, and die

Before we know our liberty.

Our life is short, and our days run

As fast away as does the sun ;

And, as a vapour or a drop of rain

Once lost, can ne'er be found again,

So when or you or I are made

A fable, song, or fleeting shade,

All love, all liking, all delight

Lies drowned with us in endless night.

Then while time serves, and we are but decaying,

Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.





Beads, prayers.

Left to dream, ceased dreaming.

Green-gown, tumble on the grass.





Listen to a sample of Dame Peggy Ashcroft reading Herrick's Corinna





Source:

Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.

Alfred Pollard, ed.

London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 82-84.







to Works of Robert Herrick Site copyright ©1996-2012 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved.

Created by Anniina Jokinen on October 20, 1999. Last updated May 1, 2012.















