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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  262. The Night-piece: To Julia

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Robert Herrick. 1591–1674

262. The Night-piece: To Julia

HER eyes the glow-worm lend thee, 
The shooting stars attend thee; 
    And the elves also, 
    Whose little eyes glow 
Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee.         5
 
No Will-o’-the-wisp mislight thee, 
Nor snake or slow-worm bite thee; 
    But on, on thy way 
    Not making a stay, 
Since ghost there ‘s none to affright thee.  10
 
Let not the dark thee cumber: 
What though the moon does slumber? 
    The stars of the night 
    Will lend thee their light 
Like tapers clear without number.  15
 
Then, Julia, let me woo thee, 
Thus, thus to come unto me; 
    And when I shall meet 
    Thy silv’ry feet, 
My soul I’ll pour into thee.  20