Back to Index

Leprosy In Clothes

by Robert Herrick, 1648

When flowing garments I behold
Inspir’d with purple, pearl and gold,
I think no other, but I see
In them a glorious leprosy
That does infect and make the rent
More mortal in the vestiment.
As flowery vestures do descry

The wearer’s rich immodesty:

So plain and simple clothes do show

Where virtue walks, not those that flow.

Published in Hesperides
Tags:

Any corrections or public domain poems I should have here? Email me at poems (at) this domain.