Give ear,O ye heavens, and I will speak: and hear,O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon thetender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.

-Bible (Old Testament)
Deuteronomy 32:1^2.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

-Bible (Old Testament)
Psalms104:14^15.

See howAurora throws her fair Fresh-quilted colours through the air: Get up, sweet-slug-a-bed, and see The dew-bespangling herb and tree.

-Herrick, Robert
  'Corinna's Going a Maying'.

How vainly men themselves amaze To win the palm, the oak, or bays; And their uncessant labours see Crown'd from some single herb or tree. Whose short and narrow verged shade Does prudently their toils upbraid; While all flow'rs and all trees do close To weave the garlands of repose.

-Marvell, Andrew
c.1650^1652  'The Garden' (published1681).

And may at last my weary age Find out the peaceful hermitage, The hairy gown and mossy cell, Where I may sit and rightly spell Of every star that heaven doth shew, And every herb that sips the dew, Till old experience to attain To something like prophetic strain.

-Milton,John
c.1631 Il Penseroso, l.167^74.