HIS WINDING-SHEET.
by Robert Herrick


COME thou, who art the wine and wit
                 Of all I've writ :
The grace, the glory, and the best
                 Piece of the rest.
Thou art of what I did intend
                 The all and end ;
And what was made, was made to meet
                 Thee, thee, my sheet.
Come then, and be to my chaste side
                 Both bed and bride.
We two, as reliques left, will have
                 One rest, one grave.
And, hugging close, we will not fear
                 Lust entering here :
Where all desires are dead or cold
                 As is the mould ;
And all affections are forgot,
                 Or trouble not.
Here, here the slaves and pris'ners be
                 From shackles free :
And weeping widow, long oppress'd
                 Do here find rest.
The wronged client ends his laws
                 Here, and his cause.
Here those long suits of chancery lie
                 Quiet, or die :
And all Star-Chamber bills do cease,
                 Or hold their peace.
Here needs no Court for our Request,
                 Where all are best,
All wise, all equal, and all just
                 Alike i' th' dust.
Nor need we here to fear the frown
                 Of court or crown :
Where fortune bears no sway o'er things,
                 There all are kings.
In this securer place we'll keep,
                 As lull'd asleep ;
Or for a little time we'll lie,
                 As robes laid by ;
To be another day re-worn,
                 Turn'd, but not torn :
Or like old testaments engrost,
                 Lock'd up, not lost :
And for a while lie here conceal'd,
                 To be reveal'd
Next at that great Platonick year,
                 And then meet here.


Platonick year, the 36,000th year, in which all persons
and things return to their original state.


Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 238-239.


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