Robert Herrick(1591–1674)

To His Conscience

Can I not sin, but thou wilt be

My p r i v a t e p r o t o n o t a r y ? 0law court's chief recorder

Can I not woo thee to pass by

A short and sweet iniquity

I'll cast a mist and cloud upon

My delicate transgression,

So utter dark, as that no eye

Shall see the hugged 0 impiety.cherished

Gifts blind the wise,8 and bribes do please,

And wind 0 all other witnesses;pervert

And wilt not thou, with gold, be tied

To lay thy pen and ink aside

That in the murk and tongueless night,murky

Wanton I may, and thou not write

It will not be; and therefore now,

For times to come, I'll make this vow:

From aberrations to live free;

So I'll not fear the judge9 or thee.