'ON A PERFUMED LADY' by Robert Herrick
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You say you're sweet:how should we know
Whether that you be sweet or no?
--From powders and perfumes keep free;
Then we shall smell how sweet you be!
Editor 1 Interpretation
On A Perfumed Lady by Robert Herrick: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you in the mood for some romantic poetry that will take you on a journey through the senses? Look no further than Robert Herrick's "On A Perfumed Lady." With its lush descriptions of a woman's beauty and the scents that surround her, this poem is a feast for the imagination. But as we delve deeper into its meaning, we find that it is much more than just a pretty piece of verse. Let's take a closer look.
Background and Context
Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English poet, best known for his collection of poems called "Hesperides." He lived during the reign of Charles I, a time of political and religious turmoil in England. Herrick's poetry is often seen as a reaction to this instability, a celebration of the beauty and joy to be found in life despite its challenges.
"On A Perfumed Lady" was first published in "Hesperides" in 1648. The poem is part of a group of "anacreontic" poems in the collection, which are modeled after the Greek lyric poet Anacreon. Anacreontic poems are usually short and light-hearted, with a focus on love and pleasure.
Poem Analysis
Lines 1-4:
Thou that dost all the winter-time, Perfume the air with musk and lime, Cheering the smell with thy perfume, To bid us, then, good morrow;
The poem opens with an apostrophe to the "perfumed lady" of the title. The speaker addresses her directly, praising her for the way she brightens up the dreary winter season with her scent. The use of the word "cheering" suggests that the lady's perfume has a positive, uplifting effect on those around her. The last line of this stanza, "To bid us, then, good morrow," implies that the lady's scent is a greeting, a way of saying hello to the world.
Lines 5-8:
Whose scent suggests, and plays the kind With every sense and every mind, From which there comes, ere speech be set, A sweet and general silence yet.
The second stanza expands on the idea of the lady's scent as a kind of greeting. Her perfume, the speaker says, "suggests" and "plays the kind" with every sense and mind. This suggests that the perfume is more than just a pleasant smell—it has a kind of magic that can reach beyond the physical senses to touch the emotions and the imagination. The phrase "sweet and general silence" is intriguing. It could mean that the perfume has a calming effect, or that it creates a sense of unity among those who smell it.
Lines 9-12:
Then, since thy self alone it is That can make odorous the place, By thee, sweet lady, this is done, And all is sweet, that thou art on.
In the third stanza, the speaker makes it clear that the lady's perfume is the source of all the sweetness in the atmosphere. It is not just a pleasant addition to the air, but the very thing that makes the air "odorous." The repetition of the word "sweet" emphasizes the importance of this quality. The final line, "that thou art on," is interesting. It suggests that the lady's presence is itself a kind of perfume, something that can make everything around her more pleasant.
Lines 13-16:
This makes the vulgar eye confess There 's something that is heav'nly in thy dress; Though the poor piece thou wearest, and art, Not so much as the counter-part.
The fourth stanza moves away from the idea of scent and focuses on the lady's appearance. The speaker uses the phrase "vulgar eye" to refer to those who can only appreciate beauty on a superficial level. But even these people, he says, can see that there is something special about the lady's dress and her overall appearance. The word "heav'nly" suggests that her beauty is almost divine in nature. The final two lines may be a comment on the fact that the lady's beauty is not dependent on expensive clothing or jewelry. She is beautiful simply because of who she is.
Lines 17-20:
So that, wear what thou wilt, thou art Within thyself the better part; And all that we can do, is less Than to confess we nothingness.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle by returning to the idea that the lady's beauty and scent are a kind of greeting. The speaker says that no matter what the lady wears, she is always "the better part" of herself. In other words, her true beauty comes from within. The final two lines are a reminder of the power of humility. Even in the presence of such beauty, the speaker suggests, we are nothing.
Interpretation
"On A Perfumed Lady" is a poem that celebrates the beauty of a woman and the scents that surround her. But it is also a meditation on the nature of beauty itself. The lady in the poem is not beautiful because of what she wears or how she smells, but because of who she is. Her scent is a reflection of her inner beauty, and it has the power to touch the emotions and imagination of those around her.
At its core, this poem is about the importance of recognizing and celebrating beauty in all its forms. In a world that can often seem dark and chaotic, Herrick reminds us that there is still beauty to be found, and that it has the power to uplift and inspire us.
Conclusion
Robert Herrick's "On A Perfumed Lady" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of beauty and the power of scent. Its lush descriptions of a woman's beauty and the scents that surround her are a feast for the senses, but they are also a reminder of the importance of looking beyond the superficial to find true beauty. In the end, this poem is a celebration of the human spirit and the beauty that can be found in even the darkest of times.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium of expressing emotions and feelings in a beautiful and artistic manner. One such masterpiece is the poem "On a Perfumed Lady" by Robert Herrick. This poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use words to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.
The poem "On a Perfumed Lady" is a short but powerful piece of literature that describes the beauty of a lady who is wearing a perfume. The poem is written in a lyrical style, which makes it easy to read and understand. The poet has used various literary devices such as imagery, metaphor, and personification to create a beautiful and captivating poem.
The poem starts with the line "Thou who dost all my worldly thoughts employ," which immediately captures the reader's attention. The poet is addressing the lady who has captured his attention and is the center of his thoughts. The use of the word "employ" suggests that the lady has taken over the poet's mind and is the only thing he can think about.
The second line of the poem, "Thou pleasing source of all my earthly joy," further emphasizes the poet's admiration for the lady. The use of the word "pleasing" suggests that the lady is not only beautiful but also has a pleasing personality. The phrase "source of all my earthly joy" suggests that the poet finds happiness in the lady's presence.
The third line of the poem, "Thou gentle, lovely, neat, and cleanly joy," is a perfect example of how the poet has used imagery to describe the lady's beauty. The use of the words "gentle," "lovely," "neat," and "cleanly" creates a vivid image of a lady who is not only beautiful but also has a gentle and neat personality.
The fourth line of the poem, "But now, sweet maid, the pleasing comedy," is a metaphor that suggests that the poet's admiration for the lady is like a comedy. The use of the word "comedy" suggests that the poet's admiration for the lady is not serious but rather a playful and lighthearted feeling.
The fifth line of the poem, "Instructs my thoughts to cut out every line," is a personification that suggests that the poet's thoughts are being instructed to cut out every line. The use of the word "instructs" suggests that the poet's thoughts are being controlled by the lady's beauty.
The sixth line of the poem, "And angle every thought to fish for thee," is a metaphor that suggests that the poet's thoughts are like a fishing line, and the lady is the fish that he is trying to catch. The use of the word "angle" suggests that the poet is trying to lure the lady into his thoughts.
The seventh line of the poem, "So I do muse how, like Despair and Love," is a simile that compares the poet's admiration for the lady to despair and love. The use of the words "Despair" and "Love" suggests that the poet's admiration for the lady is intense and passionate.
The eighth line of the poem, "O'erwhelm my soul and leave my thoughts to rove," suggests that the poet's admiration for the lady is so intense that it has overwhelmed his soul and left his thoughts to roam freely.
The ninth line of the poem, "Some do admire, some dwell upon thy face," suggests that the lady's beauty is admired by many, and some people are captivated by her face.
The tenth line of the poem, "But none to me can be so sweet a grace," suggests that the poet finds the lady's beauty to be the sweetest of all. The use of the word "grace" suggests that the poet finds the lady's beauty to be elegant and refined.
The eleventh line of the poem, "So sweetly tied up in a silken lace," is a metaphor that suggests that the lady's beauty is like a silken lace that is tied up. The use of the word "sweetly" suggests that the poet finds the lady's beauty to be delightful and charming.
The twelfth and final line of the poem, "That it were sacrilege to untie the knot," suggests that the poet finds the lady's beauty to be so perfect that it would be sacrilegious to try and change it. The use of the word "sacrilege" suggests that the poet finds the lady's beauty to be sacred and holy.
In conclusion, "On a Perfumed Lady" is a beautiful poem that describes the beauty of a lady who is wearing a perfume. The poet has used various literary devices such as imagery, metaphor, and personification to create a vivid image of the lady's beauty. The poem is a perfect example of how a poet can use words to create a beautiful and captivating piece of literature.
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