POETS Main Page INDEX of Poets INDEX of Titles & First Lines Jonson menu

Jonson

Ben Jonson
1573–1637

 
"Have You Seen
but a Bright Lily Grow"

 

Have you seen but a bright lily grow
Before rude hands have touched it?
Have you marked but the fall of snow
Before the soil hath smutched it?
Have you felt the wool of beaver,
Or swan's down ever?
Or have smelt o' the bud o' the brier,
Or the nard in the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
O so white, O so soft, O so sweet is she!

Buy Ben Jonson's poetry

POETS Main Page INDEX of Poets INDEX of Titles & First Lines Jonson menu