Robert Herrick: To His Muse (II)

TO HIS MUSE (II).
by Robert Herrick

WERE I to give the baptism, I would choose
To christen thee, the bride, the bashful muse,
Or muse of roses: since that name does fit
Best with those virgin-verses thou hast writ
Which are so clean, so chaste, as none may fear
Cato the censor, should he scan each here.

Bronzino (1503-1572). Portrait of
a Young Girl with a Prayer Book.
From CGFA.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 32.

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