[639]. Fates revolve no flax they've spun. Seneca, Herc. Fur. 1812: Duræ peragunt pensa sorores, Nec sua retro fila revolvunt.
[642]. Palms ... gems. A Latinism. Cp. Ovid, Fasti, i. 152: Et nova de gravido palmite gemma tumet.
[645]. Upon Tears. Cp. S. Bernard: Pœnitentium lacrimæ vinum angelorum.
[649]. Upon Lucy. Printed in Witts Recreations, 1650, under the title, On Betty.
[653]. To th' number five or nine. Probably Herrick is mistaking the references in Greek and Latin poets to the mixing of their wine and water (e.g., Hor. Od. III. xix. 11-17) for the drinking of so many cups.
[654]. Long-looked-for comes at last. Cp. G. Herbert, preface to Sibbes' Funeral Sermon on Sir Thomas Crew (1638): "That ancient adage, 'Quod differtur non aufertur' for 'Long-looked-for comes at last'".
[655]. The morrow's life too late is, etc. Mart. I. xvi. 12: Sera nimis vita est crastina: vive hodie.
[662]. O happy life, etc. From Virg. Georg. ii. 458-9:—
O fortunatos nimium sua si bona norint
Agricolas.
It is not uncharacteristic that these fervid praises of country life were left unfinished.