Robert Herrick, Noble Numbers

Glyn Pursglove (Swansea University)
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When Robert Herrick's major collection

Hesperides

was published in 1648, its title-page promised the reader “The Works Both Humane & Divine” of the author. The volume closes, in fact, with a collection of almost 300 poems prefaced by its own title-page, reading “HIS NOBLE NUMBERS: OR, HIS PIOUS PIECES, Wherein (amongst other things) he sings the Birth of his CHRIST: and sighes for his

Saviours

suffering on the

Crosse

“. The title-page of

Noble Numbers

bears, confusingly, the date 1647. Perhaps Herrick (who seems to have supervised the preparation of

Hesperides

) originally intended to issue

Noble Numbers

as a separate publication; whatever the circumstances it appeared as part of

Hesperides

the year after the date on its title-page.

Noble Numbers

begins with two poems which set up…

478 words

Citation: Pursglove, Glyn. "Noble Numbers". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 October 2000 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3230, accessed 19 March 2024.]

3230 Noble Numbers 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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