George Herbert(1593–1633)
Life
I made a posy, 0 while the day ran by:bouquet; poem
"Here will I s m e l l my r e m n a n t 0 o u t , a n d tieremaining time
M y life w i t h i n this band.
But Time did beckon to the flowers, and they
By noon most cunningly did steal away,
A n d w i t h e r e d i n m y h a n d .
M y h a n d w a s next t o t h e m , a n d t h e n m y heart;
I took, w i t h o u t m o r e t h i n k i n g , in g o o d part
T i m e ' s g e n t l e a d m o n i t i o n ;
Who did so sweetly death's sad taste convey,
M a k i n g m y m i n d t o s m e l l m y fatal day,
Yet sug'ring t h e s u s p i c i o n .
Farewell dear flowers, sweetly your time ye spent,
Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament,
A n d after d e a t h for c u r e s . 8
I f o l l o w straight w i t h o u t c o m p l a i n t s or grief,
S i n c e , if my s c e n t be g o o d , I care n o t if
It be as short as yours.