The Hesperides & Noble Numbers/Hesperides/The Hour-glass

by Robert Herrick

For works with similar titles, see The Hour-Glass.

127. THE HOUR-GLASS.

That hour-glass which there you see
With water fill'd, sirs, credit me,

The humour was, as I have read,
But lovers' tears incrystalled.
Which, as they drop by drop do pass
From th' upper to the under-glass,
Do in a trickling manner tell,
By many a watery syllable,
That lovers' tears in lifetime shed
Do restless run when they are dead.

Humour, moisture.