Robert Herrick(1591–1674)
The Vine
I dreamed this mortal part of mine
Was metamorphosed to a vine,
Which crawling one and every way
Enthralled 0 my dainty Lucia. 5imprisoned
Methought her long small 0 legs and thighsslender
I with my tendrils did surprise;
Her belly, buttocks, and her waist
By my soft nervelets 0 were embraced.tendrils
About her head I writhing hung,
And with rich clusters (hid among
The leaves) her temples I behung,
So that my Lucia seemed to me
Young Bacchus ravished by his tree.6
My curls about her neck did crawl,
And arms and hands they did enthrall,
So that she could not freely stir
(All parts there made one prisoner).
But when I crept with leaves to hide
Those parts which maids keep unespied,
Such fleeting pleasures there I took
That with the fancy I awoke;
And found (ah me!) this flesh of mine
More like a stock 0 than like a vine.hardened stem