THE TEAR SENT TO HER FROM STAINES.
by Robert Herrick


GLIDE, gentle streams, and bear
Along with you my tear
            To that coy girl
            Who smiles, yet slays
            Me with delays,
And strings my tears as pearl.

See ! see, she's yonder set,
Making a carcanet
            Of maiden-flowers !
            There, there present
            This orient,
And pendant pearl of ours.

Then say I've sent one more
Gem to enrich her store ;
            And that is all
            Which I can send,
            Or vainly spend,
For tears no more will fall.

Nor will I seek supply
Of them, the spring's once dry ;
            But I'll devise,
            Among the rest,
            A way that's best
How I may save mine eyes.

Yet say—should she condemn
Me to surrender them—
            Then say my part
            Must be to weep
            Out them, to keep
A poor, yet loving heart.

Say too, she would have this ;
She shall : then my hope is,
            That when I'm poor
            And nothing have
            To send or save,
I'm sure she'll ask no more.


Carcanet, necklace.



Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 51-52.


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