Delight in Disorder – Robert Herrick

In Between the Lines: An Exploration of 16th and 17th Century English and Italian Poetry



(Early-1600s)

A sweet disorder in the dress

Kindles in clothes a wantonness:

A lawn about the shoulders thrown

Into a fine distraction;

An erring lace, which here and there

Enthrals the crimson stomacher;

A cuff neglectful, and thereby

Ribbons to flow confusedly;

A winning wave, deserving note,

In the tempestuous petticoat;

A careless shoe-string, in whose tie

I see a wild civility, –

Do more bewitch me, then when art

Is too precise in every part.