Single Life Most Secure.

Suspicion, discontent, and strife
Come in for dowry with a wife.

Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English lyric poet and cleric. He is known for his book of poems, "Hesperides," which includes the carpe diem poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." His works are noted for their clarity, simplicity, and musical quality. Herrick was also a vicar of Dean Prior in Devon, despite being ejected during the English Civil War and later reinstated.

Robert Herrick

To The King.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

His Dream.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

To A Gentlewoman, Objecting To Him His Gray Hair

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

Upon The Lady Crew.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Suspicion Makes Secure.

He that will live of all cares dispossess'd,
Must shun the bad, aye, and suspect the best.

Robert Herrick

His Comfort.

The only comfort of my life
Is, that I never yet had wife;
Nor will hereafter; since I know
Who weds, o'er-buys his weal with woe

Robert Herrick

No Spouse But A Sister.

A bachelor I will
Live as I have liv'd still,
And never take a wife
To crucify my life;
But this I'll tell ye too,
What now I mean to do:
A sister (in the stead
Of wife) about I'll lead;
Which I will keep embrac'd,
And kiss, but yet be chaste.

Robert Herrick

Distrust.

Whatever men for loyalty pretend,
'Tis wisdom's part to doubt a faithful friend.

Robert Herrick

A Caution.

That love last long, let it thy first care be
To find a wife that is most fit for thee.
Be she too wealthy or too poor, be sure
Love in extremes can never long endure.

Robert Herrick

The Suspicion Upon His Over-Much Familiarity With A Gentlewoman.

And must we part, because some say
Loud is our love, and loose our play,
And more than well becomes the day?
Alas for pity! and for us
Most innocent, and injured thus!
Had we kept close, or played within,
Suspicion now had been the sin,
And shame had followed long ere this,
T' have plagued what now unpunished is.
But we, as fearless of the sun,
As faultless, will not wish undone
What now is done, since where no sin
Unbolts the door, no shame comes in.
Then, comely and most fragrant maid,
Be you more wary than afraid
Of these reports, because you see
The fairest most suspected be.
The common forms have no one eye
Or ear of burning jealousy
To follow them: but chiefly where
Love makes the cheek and chin a sphere
To dance and play ...

Robert Herrick