The Hesperides & Noble Numbers/Hesperides/To His Mistress Objecting to Him Neither Toying or Talking

The Hesperides & Noble Numbers (1898)
by Robert Herrick, edited by Alfred Pollard
Hesperides
To His Mistress Objecting to Him Neither Toying or Talking
119074The Hesperides & Noble NumbersHesperides
To His Mistress Objecting to Him Neither Toying or Talking
1898Robert Herrick

38. TO HIS MISTRESS OBJECTING TO HIM NEITHER TOYING OR TALKING.

You say I love not, 'cause I do not play
Still with your curls, and kiss the time away.

You blame me too, because I can't devise
Some sport to please those babies in your eyes:
By love's religion, I must here confess it,
The most I love when I the least express it.
Small griefs find tongues: full casks are ever found
To give (if any, yet) but little sound.
Deep waters noiseless are; and this we know,
That chiding streams betray small depth below.
So, when love speechless is, she doth express
A depth in love and that depth bottomless.
Now, since my love is tongueless, know me such
Who speak but little 'cause I love so much.


Babies in your eyes, see Note.