"He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Submits his neck into a second yoke"

In the offered quote from Robert Herrick, "He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Sends his neck into a 2nd yoke", the author reflects on the paradoxical attachment some individuals have to their restrictions. Herrick utilizes the images of "bonds" and "yokes" to explain the restrictions or responsibilities that individuals impose on themselves or undergo by external forces.

The expression "He enjoys his bonds" suggests a sense of masochistic or misguided affection for one's own constraints. Herrick is most likely commenting on the human propensity to develop a convenience or dependency on familiar conditions, even those that are limiting. This could be seen as reflecting a fear of the unknown or a failure to accept true freedom and autonomy.

When Herrick composes, "when the first are broke, Submits his neck into a 2nd yoke", he highlights the cycle of returning to restraint. The "very first are broke" suggests liberation, a chance to be free from previous bindings. Yet, instead of treasuring this newfound liberty, the private willingly "sends his neck into a 2nd yoke". This image suggests a voluntary approval of new constraints, highlighting an unwillingness or inability to remain unbounded. It can likewise suggest a mental or societal critique, pointing out how individuals often change one kind of dependence or yoke with another, whether in relationships, ideologies, or social standards.

Herrick's knowledge provides a commentary on human nature, where comfort is frequently found in repetition and chains instead of in expedition and liberation. This quote motivates introspection about the metaphorical chains we put upon ourselves and challenges us to consider why we may look for the security of a "yoke" instead of accepting the capacity of an unrestrained existence. Through this reflection, Herrick welcomes readers to question the social and personal constructs that bind them, prompting them to strive for a life devoid of unneeded and self-imposed restrictions.