The Eyes.

'Tis a known principle in war,
The eyes be first that conquered are.

Robert Herrick

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

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

The Eyes Before The Ears.

We credit most our sight; one eye doth please
Our trust far more than ten ear-witnesses.

Robert Herrick

The Eye.

A wanton and lascivious eye
Betrays the heart's adultery.

Robert Herrick

Upon Kings.

Kings must be dauntless; subjects will contemn
Those who want hearts and wear a diadem.

Robert Herrick

The Eye.

Make me a heaven, and make me there
Many a less and greater sphere:
Make me the straight and oblique lines,
The motions, lations and the signs.
Make me a chariot and a sun,
And let them through a zodiac run;
Next place me zones and tropics there,
With all the seasons of the year.
Make me a sunset and a night,
And then present the morning's light
Cloth'd in her chamlets of delight.
To these make clouds to pour down rain,
With weather foul, then fair again.
And when, wise artist, that thou hast
With all that can be this heaven grac't,
Ah! what is then this curious sky
But only my Corinna's eye?

Robert Herrick

The End.

Conquer we shall, but we must first contend;
'Tis not the fight that crowns us, but the end.

Robert Herrick

War.

If kings and kingdoms once distracted be,
The sword of war must try the sovereignty

Robert Herrick