Evil.

Evil no nature hath; the loss of good
Is that which gives to sin a livelihood.

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

A Bacchanalian Verse.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

To His Saviour's Sepulchre: His Devotion.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

Upon Himself Being Buried.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

To Mistress Mary Willand.

Robert Herrick, Simple Poetry

English

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Sin.

Sin no existence; nature none it hath,
Or good at all, as learned Aquinas saith.

Robert Herrick

Sin.

There is no evil that we do commit,
But hath th' extraction of some good from it:
As when we sin, God, the great Chemist, thence
Draws out th' elixir of true penitence.

Robert Herrick

Sin.

Sin never slew a soul unless there went
Along with it some tempting blandishment.

Robert Herrick

His Confession.

Look how our foul days do exceed our fair;
And as our bad, more than our good works are,
E'en so those lines, pen'd by my wanton wit,
Treble the number of these good I've writ.
Things precious are least numerous: men are prone
To do ten bad for one good action.

Robert Herrick

Good And Bad.

The bad among the good are here mix'd ever;
The good without the bad are here plac'd never.

Robert Herrick

Pleasures Pernicious.

Where pleasures rule a kingdom, never there
Is sober virtue seen to move her sphere.

Robert Herrick