Robert Herrick. His Winding-Sheet.

HIS WINDING-SHEET.
by Robert Herrick

COME thou, who art the wine and wit
Of all I've writ :
The grace, the glory, and the best
Piece of the rest.
Thou art of what I did intend
The all and end ;
And what was made, was made to meet
Thee, thee, my sheet.
Come then, and be to my chaste side
Both bed and bride.
We two, as reliques left, will have
One rest, one grave.
And, hugging close, we will not fear
Lust entering here :
Where all desires are dead or cold
As is the mould ;
And all affections are forgot,
Or trouble not.
Here, here the slaves and pris'ners be
From shackles free :
And weeping widow, long oppress'd
Do here find rest.
The wronged client ends his laws
Here, and his cause.
Here those long suits of chancery lie
Quiet, or die :
And all Star-Chamber bills do cease,
Or hold their peace.
Here needs no Court for our Request,
Where all are best,
All wise, all equal, and all just
Alike i' th' dust.
Nor need we here to fear the frown
Of court or crown :
Where fortune bears no sway o'er things,
There all are kings.
In this securer place we'll keep,
As lull'd asleep ;
Or for a little time we'll lie,
As robes laid by ;
To be another day re-worn,
Turn'd, but not torn :
Or like old testaments engrost,
Lock'd up, not lost :
And for a while lie here conceal'd,
To be reveal'd
Next at that great Platonick year,
And then meet here.

Platonick year, the 36,000th year, in which all persons
and things return to their original state.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 238-239.

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