Robert Herrick

Baptized in London on August 24, 1591, Robert Herrick grew up in a goldsmith's family and later studied at Cambridge. He became part of the literary circle around Ben Jonson, and he is often remembered as one of the “sons of Ben,” admired for finely crafted lyric poems.

Herrick spent many years as vicar of Dean Prior in Devon. His most famous book, Hesperides (published in 1648), gathers the short poems that made his name, while the companion section Noble Numbers turns more openly to religious themes. He is especially associated with the Cavalier tradition and with poems that urge readers to enjoy life while it lasts.

What keeps Herrick readable is the balance in his work: grace, wit, tenderness, and a sharp sense of how quickly time passes. Even when the language is distinctly 17th century, the voice often feels direct and human, which helps explain why poems such as “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” have lasted so well.