[837]. Mistress Amy Potter. Daughter of Barnabas Potter, Bishop of Carlisle, Herrick's predecessor at Dean Prior.
[839]. Love is a circle ... from good to good. So Burton, III. i. 1, § 2: Circulus a bono in bonum.
[844]. to his book. Make haste away. Martial, III. ii. Ad Librum suum—Festina tibi vindicem parare, Ne nigram cito raptus in culinam Cordyllas madidâ tegas papyro, Vel thuris piperisque sis cucullus. To make loose gowns for mackerel. From Catullus, xcv. 1:—
At Volusi annales Paduam morientur ad ipsam,
Et laxas scombris saepe dabunt tunicas.
[846]. And what we blush to speak, etc. Ovid, Phaedra to Hipp. 10: Dicere quae puduit scribere jussit amor.
[849]. 'Tis sweet to think, etc. Seneca, Herc. Fur. 657-58: Quae fuit durum pati Meminisse dulce est.
[851]. To Mr. Henry Lawes, the excellent composer of his lyrics. Henry Lawes (1595-1662), the friend of Milton, admitted a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, 1625. In the Noble Numbers he is mentioned as the composer of Herrick's Christmas Carol and the first of his two New-Year's Gifts. Lawes also set to music Herrick's Not to Love, To Mrs. Eliz. Wheeler (Among the Myrtles as I walked), The Kiss, The Primrose, To a Gentlewoman objecting to him his Grey Hairs, and doubtless others.
[852]. Maidens tell me I am old. From Anacreon:
Λέγουσιν αἱ γυναῖκες
Ἀνακρέων γέρων εἶ κ.τ.λ.