Robert Herrick. Tears Are Tongues.

Robert Herrick

TEARS ARE TONGUES.

WHEN Julia chid I stood as mute the while
As is the fish or tongueless crocodile.
Air coin’d to words my Julia could not hear,
But she could see each eye to stamp a tear ;
By which mine angry mistress might descry
Tears are the noble language of the eye.
And when true love of words is destitute
The eyes by tears speak, while the tongue is mute.

Salvator Rosa. Democritus in Meditation. c.1650

Democritus in Meditation.
Salvator Rosa, c.1650.

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol I.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 70.

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