Robert Herrick. To his Conscience.

TO HIS CONSCIENCE.
by Robert Herrick

CAN I not sin, but thou wilt be
My private protonotary ?
Can I not woo thee to pass by
A short and sweet iniquity ?
I'll cast a mist and cloud upon
My delicate transgression
So utter dark as that no eye
Shall see the hugg'd impiety ;
Gifts blind the wise, and bribes do please
And wind all other witnesses ;
And wilt not thou with gold be ti'd
To lay thy pen and ink aside ?
That in the mirk and tongueless night
Wanton I may, and thou not write ?
It will not be. And therefore, now,
For times to come I'll make this vow,
From aberrations to live free ;
So I'll not fear the Judge or thee.

Protonotary, once the title of the chief clerk in the
Courts of Common Pleas and King's Bench.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol II.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 193.

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