When Robert Herrick's major collection
Hesperideswas 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
Saviourssuffering on the
Crosse“. The title-page of
Noble Numbersbears, confusingly, the date 1647. Perhaps Herrick (who seems to have supervised the preparation of
Hesperides) originally intended to issue
Noble Numbersas a separate publication; whatever the circumstances it appeared as part of
Hesperidesthe year after the date on its title-page.
Noble Numbersbegins 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 21 November 2024.]
