The Fast, Or Lent.

Noah the first was, as tradition says,
That did ordain the fast of forty days.

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

Penitence.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

Distrust.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

To His Mistress.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

Upon Spur.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

English

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To Keep A True Lent.

Is this a fast, to keep
    The larder lean?
        And clean
From fat of veals and sheep?

Is it to quit the dish
    Of flesh, yet still
        To fill
The platter high with fish?

Is it to fast an hour,
    Or ragg'd to go,
        Or show
A downcast look and sour?

No; 'tis a fast to dole
    Thy sheaf of wheat,
        And meat,
Unto the hungry soul.

It is to fast from strife,
    From old debate
        And hate;
To circumcise thy life.

To show a heart grief-rent;
    To starve thy sin,
        Not bin;
And that's to keep thy Lent.

Robert Herrick

Upon Bungy.

Bungy does fast; looks pale; puts sackcloth on;
Not out of conscience, or religion:
Or that this younker keeps so strict a Lent,
Fearing to break the king's commandement:
But being poor, and knowing flesh is dear,
He keeps not one, but many Lents i' th' year.

Robert Herrick

Delay.

Break off delay, since we but read of one
That ever prospered by cunctation.

Robert Herrick

To The Lark.

Good speed, for I this day
Betimes my matins say:
Because I do
Begin to woo,
Sweet-singing lark,
Be thou the clerk,
And know thy when
To say, Amen.
And if I prove
Bless'd in my love,
Then thou shalt be
High-priest to me,
At my return,
To incense burn;
And so to solemnise
Love's and my sacrifice.

Robert Herrick

Upon Flood Or A Thankful Man.

Flood, if he has for him and his a bit,
He says his fore and after grace for it:
If meat he wants, then grace he says to see
His hungry belly borne on legs jail-free.
Thus have, or have not, all alike is good
To this our poor yet ever patient Flood.

Robert Herrick

Hymn After Fasting (Hymnus Post Ieiunium)

Newly Translated Into English Verse By R. Martin Pope is below this original.

Hymnus Post Ieiunium


Christe servorum regimen tuorum,
mollibus qui nos moderans habenis
leniter frenas facilique septos
            lege coerces:

ipse cum portans onus inpeditum
corporis duros tuleris labores,
maior exemplis famulos remisso
            dogmate palpas.

Nona submissum rotat hora solem
partibus vixdum tribus evolutis,
quarta devexo superest in axe
            portio lucis.

Nos brevis voti dape vindicata
solvimus festum fruimurque mensis
adfatim plenis, quibus inbuatur
            prona voluptas.

Tantus aeterni favor est magistri,
doctor indulgens ita nos amico
lactat hortatu, levis obsequela ut
         ...

Aurelius Clemens Prudentius