Robert Herrick. To His Honoured Kinsman, Sir William Soame. Epig.

TO HIS HONOURED KINSMAN, SIR WILLIAM
SOAME. EPIG.
by Robert Herrick

I CAN but name thee, and methinks I call
All that have been, or are canonical
For love and bounty to come near, and see
Their many virtues volum'd up in thee ;
In thee, brave man ! whose incorrupted fame
Casts forth a light like to a virgin flame ;
And as it shines it throws a scent about,
As when a rainbow in perfumes goes out.
So vanish hence, but leave a name as sweet
As benjamin and storax when they meet.

Benjamin, gum benzoin.
Storax or Styrax, another resinous gum.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 163.

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