Robert Herrick’s couplet captures a cynical truth about power and restlessness. Great cities, he says, are almost never at peace. If there’s no distant threat demanding a fight, they turn inward and discover foes among themselves—enemies far more dangerous than any invader could be. The speaker’s tone isn’t angry or scolding; it feels like the weary observation of someone who’s seen this cycle play out again and again. There’s a quiet, knowing resignation in how flatly he delivers the lines, as if this outcome is simply inevitable. The mood is dark and faintly grim, leaving you with the sense that calm is always temporary. When external enemies vanish, the real trouble begins: ambition, factional hatred, and private greed start to tear at the city from within. Herrick gets straight to the point, offering no comfort—just a hard, memorable reminder that the worst threats often grow in our own streets.
PEACE NOT PERMANENT — Summary
Great cities seldom rest; if there be none T' invade from far, they'll find worse foes at home.