'Elegy XVI: On His Mistress' by John Donne
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By our first strange and fatal interview,
By all desires which thereof did ensue,
By our long starving hopes, by that remorse
Which my words' masculine persuasive force
Begot in thee, and by the memory
Of hurts, which spies and rivals threatened me,
I calmly beg: but by thy father's wrath,
By all pains, which want and divorcement hath,
I conjure thee, and all the oaths which I
And thou have sworn to seal joint constancy,
Here I unswear, and overswear them thus,
Thou shalt not love by ways so dangerous.
Temper, O fair Love, love's impetuous rage,
Be my true Mistress still, not my feigned Page;
I'll go, and, by thy kind leave, leave behind
Thee, only worthy to nurse in my mind
Thirst to come back; O if thou die before,
My soul from other lands to thee shall soar.
Thy (else Almighty) beauty cannot move
Rage from the Seas, nor thy love teach them love,
Nor tame wild Boreas' harshness; thou hast read
How roughly he in pieces shivered
Fair Orithea, wbom he swore he loved.
Fall ill or good, 'tis madness to have proved
Dangers unurged; feed on this flattery,
That absent Lovers one in th' other be.
Dissemble nothing, not a boy, nor change
Thy body's habit, nor mind's; be not strange
To thyself only; all will spy in thy face
A blushing womanly discovering grace;
Ricbly clothed Apes are called Apes, and as soon
Eclipsed as bright we call the Moon the Moon.
Men of France, changeable chameleons,
Spitals of diseases, shops of fashions,
Love's fuellers, and the rightest company
Of Players, which upon the world's stage be,
Will quickly know thee, and no less, alas!
Th' indifferent Italian, as we pass
His warm land, well content to think thee Page,
Will hunt thee with such lust, and hideous rage,
As Lot's fair guests were vexed. But none of these
Nor spongy hydroptic Dutch shall thee displease,
If thou stay here. O stay here, for, for thee
England is only a worthy gallery,
To walk in expectation, till from thence
Our greatest King call thee to his presence.
When I am gone, dream me some happiness,
Nor let thy looks our long-hid love confess,
Nor praise, nor dispraise me, nor bless nor curse
Openly love's force, nor in bed fright thy Nurse
With midnight's startings, crying out—oh, oh
Nurse, O my love is slain, I saw him go
O'er the white Alps alone; I saw him, I,
Assailed, fight, taken, stabbed, bleed, fall, and die.
Augur me better chance, except dread Jove
Think it enough for me t' have had thy love.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Elegy XVI: On His Mistress by John Donne
Have you ever read a poem that left you in awe? A poem that spoke to your heart and soul, that made you see things in a new light? If not, then you need to read Elegy XVI: On His Mistress by John Donne. This classic poem is a masterpiece of literature that is both beautiful and profound.
The Context
Let's start with some context. John Donne was a 17th-century poet who was known for his metaphysical poetry. He was a master of wordplay and his poetry often had a spiritual or philosophical meaning. Elegy XVI: On His Mistress was written in the early 1600s and is a love poem dedicated to his mistress.
The Poem
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different theme. The first stanza is an introduction to the poem and sets the tone for the rest of the elegy. The second stanza is a confession of love and admiration for his mistress, while the third stanza is a reflection on the nature of love and death.
Stanza One
The first stanza begins with the speaker addressing his mistress directly. He tells her that he has been thinking about her and that he has been filled with a sense of sadness. He describes her as being like a flower that is fading away, and he mourns the fact that time is passing too quickly.
Stanza Two
The second stanza is where the poem really shines. The speaker begins by comparing his mistress to a goddess, saying that she is more beautiful than any of the ancient Greek or Roman goddesses. He then goes on to describe her in detail, saying that her eyes are like stars and her breath is like perfume.
But what really sets this stanza apart is the way that the speaker talks about his love for his mistress. He says that he loves her not just for her beauty, but for her mind and her soul as well. He talks about how they are both united in their love, and how they will be together even after death.
Stanza Three
The third and final stanza is a reflection on the nature of love and death. The speaker says that love is eternal and that it can never die, even after the body has turned to dust. He then goes on to say that death is not something to be feared, because it is just a part of life's natural cycle.
The Interpretation
So what does this poem mean? On the surface, it's a love poem dedicated to the speaker's mistress. But if you dig a little deeper, you'll see that it's much more than that. The poem is really about the nature of love and how it transcends time and death.
The speaker's love for his mistress is not just physical, but spiritual as well. He loves her for who she is as a person, not just for her beauty. He sees her as a goddess, not just because of her physical appearance, but because of her inner qualities as well.
The speaker also reflects on the nature of death and how it is just a part of life's natural cycle. He sees death as something to be embraced, not feared, because it is just a transition from one state of being to another.
The Literary Criticism
From a literary standpoint, Elegy XVI: On His Mistress is a masterpiece. It is a perfect example of metaphysical poetry, with its use of complex imagery and wordplay. The poem also uses a variety of poetic devices, including metaphors, similes, and personification.
But what really sets this poem apart is its emotional depth. The speaker's love for his mistress is palpable, and his reflections on the nature of love and death are profound. The poem is a testament to the power of love and how it can transcend even death itself.
Conclusion
If you haven't read Elegy XVI: On His Mistress by John Donne, then you're missing out. This classic poem is a masterpiece of literature that is both beautiful and profound. Its themes of love, beauty, and death are timeless, and its use of metaphysical imagery and wordplay is truly remarkable. So take some time to read and reflect on this poem, and let its beauty and wisdom speak to your heart and soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Donne’s Elegy XVI: On His Mistress is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and poignant piece that captures the essence of love, loss, and grief. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the poem’s themes, structure, and language to understand its significance and impact.
The poem is an elegy, a type of poem that is written to mourn the loss of someone or something. In this case, Donne is mourning the loss of his mistress, who has died. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different focus. The first stanza is focused on the speaker’s grief and the pain of losing his mistress. The second stanza is focused on the beauty and virtues of the mistress, while the third stanza is focused on the speaker’s hope for the future.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing his grief and the pain of losing his mistress. He describes his sorrow as a “tear-flood” that he cannot control. The use of the word “flood” is significant because it suggests that the speaker’s grief is overwhelming and cannot be contained. He also describes his grief as a “tempest” that is raging within him. The use of the word “tempest” is significant because it suggests that the speaker’s grief is violent and destructive.
In the second stanza, the speaker shifts his focus to the beauty and virtues of his mistress. He describes her as “fair” and “virtuous” and suggests that she was a “saint” who deserved to be worshipped. The use of religious imagery is significant because it suggests that the speaker’s love for his mistress was pure and transcendent. He also suggests that his mistress was a “miracle” and that her beauty was beyond compare.
The third stanza is focused on the speaker’s hope for the future. He suggests that his mistress is not truly dead but has merely “changed her sphere.” The use of the word “sphere” is significant because it suggests that the speaker believes in an afterlife and that his mistress is now in a better place. He also suggests that he will be reunited with his mistress in the future and that their love will continue to grow.
The language used in the poem is rich and complex. Donne uses metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to convey his ideas and emotions. For example, he compares his grief to a “tear-flood” and a “tempest” to suggest that it is overwhelming and destructive. He also uses religious imagery to describe his mistress as a “saint” and a “miracle” to suggest that she was a divine being.
The poem’s structure is also significant. The use of three stanzas allows Donne to explore different aspects of his grief and his relationship with his mistress. The first stanza is focused on his grief, the second stanza is focused on his love for his mistress, and the third stanza is focused on his hope for the future. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase continues from one line to the next, also adds to the poem’s flow and rhythm.
In conclusion, John Donne’s Elegy XVI: On His Mistress is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and grief. The poem’s themes, structure, and language are all significant and contribute to its impact and significance. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the enduring nature of human emotions. It is a classic poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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