Robert Herrick. The Parliament of Roses to Julia.

Robert Herrick

THE PARLIAMENT OF ROSES TO JULIA.

I DREAMT the roses one time went
To meet and sit in parliament ;
The place for these, and for the rest
Of flowers, was thy spotless breast,
Over the which a state was drawn
Of tiffanie or cobweb lawn.
Then in that parly all those powers
Voted the rose the queen of flowers ;
But so as that herself should be
The maid of honour unto thee.

State, a canopy.
Tiffanie, gauze.
Parly, a parliament.

Guido Reni (1575-1642). Girl With a Rose.
Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 7.

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