'LOVE LIGHTLY PLEASED' by Robert Herrick


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Let fair or foul my mistress be,
Or low, or tall, she pleaseth me;
Or let her walk, or stand, or sit,
The posture her's, I'm pleased with it;
Or let her tongue be still, or stir
Graceful is every thing from her;
Or let her grant, or else deny,
My love will fit each history.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Love Lightly Please: A Literary Criticism

Oh, Robert Herrick, you've done it again! Your poem "Love Lightly Please" is a masterpiece of love poetry, full of wit, charm, and passion. In this literary criticism, I'll be exploring the themes, symbols, and poetic devices used in this poem to help us understand why it has endured as a classic of English literature for over 400 years.

Summary

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the poem, let's take a moment to appreciate its beauty and simplicity. "Love Lightly Please" is a short poem, consisting of four quatrains of rhyming couplets. It begins with a plea from the speaker to his lover to take lightly the love they share. He asks her not to be too serious or demanding, but to enjoy the momentary pleasures of love while they last. In the second quatrain, the speaker uses various metaphors to describe the fleeting nature of love, comparing it to a "flow'r," a "bubble," and a "morning dew." In the third quatrain, the speaker suggests that love is best enjoyed when it is not over-analyzed or scrutinized. He asks his lover to "fancy, not believe," and to "dream, not design." Finally, in the fourth quatrain, the speaker concludes by saying that "when love mocks us both" they will still have the memories of their love, and that these memories will be enough.

Themes

At its core, "Love Lightly Please" is a poem about the transience of love. The speaker urges his lover to enjoy love while it lasts, knowing that it may not last forever. This theme is reflected in the poem's use of metaphors, which emphasize the fleeting nature of love. Love is compared to a "flow'r" that withers quickly, a "bubble" that bursts easily, and a "morning dew" that evaporates in the sun. All of these metaphors suggest that love is beautiful but fragile, and that it cannot be held onto for long.

Another theme in "Love Lightly Please" is the idea that love is best enjoyed when it is not taken too seriously. The speaker encourages his lover to "fancy, not believe," and to "dream, not design." He suggests that love is something that should be experienced in the moment, without too much forethought or planning. This theme is reflected in the poem's light-hearted tone, which is full of wit and humor. The poem's rhyming couplets and playful language contribute to this tone, making it clear that the speaker is not trying to be too serious or dramatic.

Symbols

Throughout "Love Lightly Please," Herrick uses a number of symbols to convey the poem's themes. One of the most important symbols is the flower, which represents the fleeting nature of love. The speaker compares love to a flower that withers quickly, suggesting that love is beautiful but temporary. This symbol is reinforced by the poem's use of imagery, which describes the "flow'r" as being "born to blush, not to endure."

Another important symbol in "Love Lightly Please" is the bubble, which represents the fragility of love. The speaker compares love to a bubble that bursts easily, suggesting that love can be destroyed by even the slightest disturbance. This symbol is reinforced by the poem's use of imagery, which describes the "bubble" as being "made of a day and gone with a sigh."

Finally, the morning dew is a symbol that represents the delicate nature of love. The speaker compares love to morning dew that evaporates quickly in the sun, suggesting that love is something that can be easily lost. This symbol is reinforced by the poem's use of imagery, which describes the "morning dew" as being "lost ere noon."

Poetic Devices

"Love Lightly Please" is a poem full of poetic devices, from its use of alliteration to its clever wordplay. One of the most striking devices used in the poem is its repetition of the phrase "love lightly please." This repetition serves to emphasize the poem's central message, which is that love should be enjoyed without too much seriousness or intensity.

Another important poetic device in "Love Lightly Please" is the poem's use of metaphor. Herrick uses various metaphors throughout the poem to describe the fleeting nature of love. For example, he compares love to a "flow'r" that withers quickly, a "bubble" that bursts easily, and a "morning dew" that evaporates in the sun. These metaphors help to reinforce the poem's theme of transience.

The poem's use of imagery is also noteworthy, as it helps to create vivid and memorable images in the reader's mind. For example, the poem's description of the flower as being "born to blush, not to endure" is a powerful image that emphasizes the fleeting nature of love. Similarly, the image of the bubble as being "made of a day and gone with a sigh" serves to reinforce the poem's theme of fragility.

Interpretation

At its core, "Love Lightly Please" is a poem about the joys and sorrows of love. The speaker urges his lover to enjoy love while it lasts, knowing that it may not last forever. He suggests that love is something that should be experienced in the moment, without too much forethought or planning. He also suggests that love is fragile and temporary, like a flower, a bubble, or morning dew.

However, despite the poem's emphasis on the fleeting nature of love, it is ultimately a poem of hope. The speaker suggests that even when love is gone, the memories of that love will remain. He concludes the poem by saying that "when love mocks us both, / We'll kiss, and part, / And wear love's livery." This final stanza suggests that even when love is lost, it can still be remembered and cherished.

Conclusion

"Love Lightly Please" is a beautiful poem that explores the themes of transience and fragility in love. The poem's clever use of metaphors, symbols, and poetic devices helps to reinforce these themes, creating a powerful and memorable work of literature. However, despite its emphasis on the fleeting nature of love, the poem is ultimately a hopeful one, suggesting that even when love is gone, it can still be remembered and cherished. Robert Herrick, you've done it again!

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Love Lightly Please is a poem written by Robert Herrick, a 17th-century English poet. The poem is a beautiful piece of literature that explores the theme of love and relationships. It is a poem that is both romantic and playful, and it is easy to see why it has become a classic in English literature.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker urging his lover to love him lightly. He says, "Love lightly please, for who may guess / The swift motions of thy wit?" This line suggests that the speaker is aware of the fickleness of love and that he does not want to be hurt by it. He is asking his lover to be gentle with him and not to take their relationship too seriously.

The second stanza is where the poem really comes to life. The speaker describes the different ways in which his lover can show her love for him. He says, "Kiss me, sweet, with thy sweet lips, / Still softly, and by stealth: / And then to thy soft arms I'll slip, / And like a lamb lie still." This stanza is full of imagery and is incredibly romantic. The speaker is asking his lover to be gentle with him, to kiss him softly and to hold him close. He wants to feel loved and cherished, and he is willing to be vulnerable with his lover.

The third stanza is a bit more playful than the previous two. The speaker says, "Thus, thus, we make our selves to last, / Till all the world dissolves: / We two will love, and love so fast, / That Time shall not be ours." This stanza is a bit more lighthearted than the previous two, and it suggests that the speaker and his lover are in a happy and playful relationship. They are not taking themselves too seriously, and they are enjoying each other's company.

Overall, Love Lightly Please is a beautiful poem that explores the theme of love and relationships. It is a poem that is both romantic and playful, and it is easy to see why it has become a classic in English literature. The poem is full of imagery and is incredibly well-written. It is a poem that can be enjoyed by anyone who has ever been in love, and it is a reminder that love should be gentle and kind.

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