Upon Center, A Spectacle-Maker With A Flat Nose.

Center is known weak-sighted, and he sells
To others store of helpful spectacles.
Why wears he none? Because we may suppose,
Where leaven wants, there level lies the nose.

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

The Poet Hath Lost His Pipe.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

The Vine

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

A New Years' Gift Sent To Sir Simeon Steward

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

Upon Vinegar.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

English

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Report Of An Adjudged Case, Not To Be Found In Any Of The Books.

Between Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose,
The spectacles set them unhappily wrong;
The point in dispute was, as all the world knows,
To which the said spectacles ought to belong.


So Tongue was the lawyer, and argued the cause
With a great deal of skill, and a wig full of learning
While chief baron Ear sat to balance the laws,
So famed for his talent in nicely discerning.


In behalf of the Nose it will quickly appear,
And your lordship, he said, will undoubtedly find,
That the Nose has had spectacles always in wear,
Which amounts to possession time out of mind.


Then holding the spectacles up to the court
Your lordship observes they are made with a straddle,
As wide as the ridge of the Nose is; in short,
Designd to sit close ...

William Cowper

Report Of An Adjudged Case, Not To Be Found In Any Of The Books

Between Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose,
    The spectacles set them unhappily wrong;
The point in dispute was, as all the world knows,
    To which the said spectacles ought to belong.

So Tongue was the lawyer, and argued the cause
    With a great deal of skill, and a wig full of learning;
While chief baron Ear sat to balance the laws,
    So famed for his talent in nicely discerning.

In behalf of the Nose it will quickly appear,
    And your lordship, he said, will undoubtedly find,
That the Nose has had spectacles always to wear,
    Which amounts to possession time out of mind.

Then holding the spectacles up to the court,
    Your lordship observes they are made with a straddle
As wide as the ridge of the Nose is; in short,
    Designed...

William Cowper

Upon Tap.

Tap, better known than trusted, as we hear,
Sold his old mother's spectacles for beer:
And not unlikely; rather too than fail,
He'll sell her eyes, and nose, for beer and ale.

Robert Herrick

Upon Ursley.

Ursley, she thinks those velvet patches grace
The candid temples of her comely face;
But he will say, whoe'er those circlets seeth,
They be but signs of Ursley's hollow teeth.

Robert Herrick

To The King.

Give way, give way! now, now my Charles shines here
A public light, in this immensive sphere;
Some stars were fix'd before, but these are dim
Compar'd, in this my ample orb, to him.
Draw in your feeble fires, while that he
Appears but in his meaner majesty.
Where, if such glory flashes from his name,
Which is his shade, who can abide his flame!
Princes, and such like public lights as these,
Must not be look'd on but at distances:
For, if we gaze on these brave lamps too near,
Our eyes they'll blind, or if not blind, they'll blear.

Robert Herrick

Upon His Eyesight Failing Him.

I begin to wane in sight;
Shortly I shall bid good-night:
Then no gazing more about,
When the tapers once are out.

Robert Herrick