The Hesperides & Noble Numbers: Vol. 1 and 2

by Robert Herrick

Aetherias, lascive, cupis volitare per auras:
I, fuge; sed poteras tutior esse domi.

But for the Court. Cp. Martial, I. iv. 3, 4.

[4]. While Brutus standeth by. "Brutus and Cato are commonplaces of examples of severe virtue": Grosart. But Herrick is translating. This is from Martial, XI. xvi. 9, 10:—

Erubuit posuitque meum Lucretia librum,
Sed coram Bruto; Brute, recede, leget.

[8]. When he would have his verses read. The thought throughout this poem is taken from Martial, X. xix., beginning:—

Nec doctum satis et parum severum,
Sed non rusticulum nimis libellum
Facundo mea Plinio, Thalia,
I perfer:

where the address to Thalia perhaps explains Herrick's "do not thou rehearse". The important lines are:—

Sed ne tempore non tuo disertam
Pulses ebria januam, videto.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Seras tutior ibis ad lucernas.
Hæc hora est tua, cum furit Lyæus,
Cum regnat rosa, cum madent capilli:
Tunc me vel rigidi legant Catones.

When laurel spirts i' th' fire. Burning bay leaves was a Christmas observance. Herrick sings:—

"Of crackling laurel, which foresounds
A plenteous harvest to your grounds":