Robert Herrick. A Hymn to the Lares.

A HYMN TO THE LARES.
by Robert Herrick

IT was, and still my care is,
To worship ye, the Lares,
With crowns of greenest parsley
And garlic chives, not scarcely ;
For favours here to warm me,
And not by fire to harm me ;
For gladding so my hearth here
With inoffensive mirth here ;
That while the wassail bowl here
With north-down ale doth troul here,
No syllable doth fall here
To mar the mirth at all here.
For which, O chimney-keepers !
(I dare not call ye sweepers)
So long as I am able
To keep a country table,
Great be my fare, or small cheer,
I'll eat and drink up all here.

Troul, pass round.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol II.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 40.

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