Robert Herrick’s Poetry in the Context of Pre-1590 Literature
Though Robert Herrick (1591–1674) wrote after our cutoff date, his carpe diem lyrics reflect earlier Elizabethan influences that shaped English poetry before 1590. Here’s how four of his most famous poems connect to pre-1590 traditions:
1. To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time (1648) – Echoes of Classical & Tudor Poetry
Horatian Influence: Herrick’s “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may” directly adapts Horace’s carpe diem philosophy.
Medieval Memento Mori: The warning that “time is still a-flying” recalls Chaucer’s The Pardoner’s Tale (“Radix malorum est Cupiditas”).
Elizabethan Song Tradition: Similar to anonymous lyrics in Tottel’s Miscellany (1557).
2. Upon Julia’s Clothes (1648) – The Petrarchan Legacy
Sensual Imagery: Herrick’s focus on Julia’s “liquefaction” mirrors Spenser’s Amoretti (1595), blending physical desire with poetic idealism.
Neoplatonism: The poem’s spiritualized eroticism recalls Sidney’s Astrophil and Stella (1591).
3. Corinna’s Going A-Maying (1648) – Folk Ritual and Elizabethan Pastoral
May Day Celebrations: Herrick’s pagan-infused festivity mirrors medieval folk plays and Chaucer’s The Knight’s Tale (Maying scenes).
Moral Ambiguity: Like The Wife of Bath’s Prologue, it challenges Puritan strictures with earthy vitality.
4. Delight in Disorder (1648) – Metaphysical Precursors
Conceit of Imperfection: Herrick’s praise of “wild civility” anticipates Donne but aligns with Wyatt’s paradoxical love lyrics.
Jewel Imagery: The “erring lace” evokes the elaborate descriptions in The Faerie Queene (1590).
Why Herrick Matters for Pre-1590 Studies
Though a 17th-century Cavalier poet, Herrick’s work:
Preserves Elizabethan musicality (like Spenser).
Revives medieval folk motifs (Maying, memento mori).
Bridges Renaissance Platonism and Restoration wit.
Herrick’s poetry is a late flowering of pre-1590 traditions, proving their enduring power.