'TO PHILLIS, TO LOVE AND LIVE WITH HIM' by Robert Herrick


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TO PHILLIS, TO LOVE AND LIVE WITH HIM

Live, live with me, and thou shalt see
The pleasures I'll prepare for thee:
What sweets the country can afford
Shall bless thy bed, and bless thy board.
The soft sweet moss shall be thy bed,
With crawling woodbine over-spread:
By which the silver-shedding streams
Shall gently melt thee into dreams.
Thy clothing next, shall be a gown
Made of the fleeces' purest down.
The tongues of kids shall be thy meat;
Their milk thy drink; and thou shalt eat
The paste of filberts for thy bread
With cream of cowslips buttered:
Thy feasting-table shall be hills
With daisies spread, and daffadils;
Where thou shalt sit, and Red-breast by,
For meat, shall give thee melody.
I'll give thee chains and carcanets
Of primroses and violets.
A bag and bottle thou shalt have,
That richly wrought, and this as brave;
So that as either shall express
The wearer's no mean shepherdess.
At shearing-times, and yearly wakes,
When Themilis his pastime makes,
There thou shalt be; and be the wit,
Nay more, the feast, and grace of it.
On holydays, when virgins meet
To dance the heys with nimble feet,
Thou shalt come forth, and then appear
The Queen of Roses for that year.
And having danced ('bove all the best)
Carry the garland from the rest,
In wicker-baskets maids shall bring
To thee, my dearest shepherdling,
The blushing apple, bashful pear,
And shame-faced plum, all simp'ring there.
Walk in the groves, and thou shalt find
The name of Phillis in the rind
Of every straight and smooth-skin tree;
Where kissing that, I'll twice kiss thee.
To thee a sheep-hook I will send,
Be-prank'd with ribbands, to this end,
This, this alluring hook might be
Less for to catch a sheep, than me.
Thou shalt have possets, wassails fine,
Not made of ale, but spiced wine;
To make thy maids and self free mirth,
All sitting near the glitt'ring hearth.
Thou shalt have ribbands, roses, rings,
Gloves, garters, stockings, shoes, and strings
Of winning colours, that shall move
Others to lust, but me to love.
--These, nay, and more, thine own shall be,
If thou wilt love, and live with me.

Editor 1 Interpretation

TO PHILLIS, TO LOVE AND LIVE WITH HIM by Robert Herrick

"Fair and fair, and twice so fair,
As fair as any may be;
The fairest shepherd on our green,
A love for any lady."

The above lines are an excerpt from one of the most celebrated poems of Robert Herrick, "To Phillis, to Love and Live with Him." The poem, which falls under the category of pastoral poetry, was published in 1648 in Herrick's collection, Hesperides. The poem is a beautiful expression of love and desire, and it captures the essence of the pastoral tradition with its vivid imagery and lyrical language. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem's themes, motifs, and symbols, and explore why it has endured as a classic of English literature.

Background and Context

Before we dive into the poem itself, it is essential to provide some background and context for Robert Herrick and the pastoral tradition. Robert Herrick (1591-1674) was an English poet and cleric. He is best known for his collection of poems, Hesperides, which was published in 1648, and Noble Numbers, a collection of religious poems published in 1647. Herrick was a contemporary of John Donne and Ben Jonson, and his poetry reflects the influence of the metaphysical poets of the seventeenth century.

Pastoral poetry is a genre that has its roots in ancient Greek literature. It is characterized by its depiction of rural life and the natural world. In pastoral poetry, the urban world is contrasted with the rural, and the idealized life of shepherds and farmers is celebrated. The pastoral tradition was revived during the Renaissance, and it became popular in England during the seventeenth century.

Herrick's poetry is an excellent example of pastoral poetry. His poems are filled with references to the natural world, and they celebrate the simple life of the countryside. The pastoral tradition provided Herrick with a framework for exploring themes of love, desire, and beauty.

Poem Analysis

"To Phillis, to Love and Live with Him" is a short poem consisting of nine quatrains (four-line stanzas). The poem's central theme is love, and it explores the speaker's desire to be with his beloved Phillis. The poem's structure is simple, and its language is lyrical, with a strong emphasis on imagery.

The first stanza sets the tone for the poem. The speaker begins by describing Phillis as "fair and twice so fair." The repetition of the word "fair" emphasizes Phillis's beauty and suggests that she is the epitome of perfection. The speaker then goes on to describe her as "the fairest shepherd on our green," which places her in the pastoral tradition and suggests that she is the idealized image of a shepherdess.

The second stanza continues the theme of beauty and desire. The speaker describes Phillis's eyes as "brighter than the starry frame," which emphasizes their luminosity and their power to captivate. The following two stanzas continue to explore Phillis's beauty, comparing her to the "lilies" and the "roses" and emphasizing her grace and elegance.

The fifth stanza marks a shift in the poem's focus. The speaker moves from describing Phillis's physical attributes to expressing his desire for her. He states that he loves her "more than the tops of craggy hills," which suggests that his love is vast and all-encompassing. The following stanzas continue in this vein, with the speaker expressing his desire to be with Phillis and to spend his days by her side.

The final stanza is particularly powerful. The speaker states that he wishes to "live and love with thee" and that he hopes to be with Phillis until they are both "old and toothless." This image of aging and decay is a reminder that love is not just about physical beauty but also about the deeper connection between two people.

Themes and Motifs

The central theme of "To Phillis, to Love and Live with Him" is love. The speaker expresses his desire to be with Phillis and to spend his life loving her. The poem explores the different facets of love, from physical attraction to emotional connection. It also explores the idea of love as a force that can endure over time.

Another key theme of the poem is the pastoral tradition. The poem invokes images of the natural world and celebrates the simple life of the countryside. The speaker's desire for Phillis is linked to his desire for a simpler, more idyllic life.

Motifs in the poem include the use of natural imagery to describe Phillis's beauty. The speaker compares her to lilies, roses, and other natural objects, emphasizing her connection to the natural world. The motif of aging and decay in the final stanza is also significant. It suggests that the speaker's love for Phillis is not just about physical beauty but about a deeper connection that can endure over time.

Symbolism

The most significant symbol in the poem is Phillis herself. She represents the idealized image of a shepherdess, and her beauty is a symbol of the natural world. Phillis also represents the speaker's desire for a simpler, more idyllic life. She is a symbol of the pastoral tradition, which celebrates the simple life of the countryside.

Another symbol in the poem is the natural world itself. The speaker uses natural imagery to describe Phillis's beauty, and the pastoral setting is a symbol of a simpler, more idyllic life. The natural world is a symbol of the speaker's desire to escape from the complexities of urban life and to live in harmony with nature.

Conclusion

"To Phillis, to Love and Live with Him" is a beautiful expression of love and desire. It captures the essence of the pastoral tradition with its vivid imagery and lyrical language. The poem explores the different facets of love, from physical attraction to emotional connection, and it celebrates the simple life of the countryside. The poem's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless themes and motifs, and it remains a classic of English literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

To Phillis, to Love and Live with Him: A Classic Poem by Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick, a 17th-century English poet, is known for his lyrical and romantic poetry. His poem "To Phillis, to Love and Live with Him" is a classic example of his work, and it has been celebrated for its beauty and simplicity. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and language.

The Poem

Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a look at the poem itself:

Live, live with me, and thou shalt see
The pleasures I'll prepare for thee:
What sweets the country can afford
Shall bless thy bed and bless thy board.

The soft sweet moss shall be thy bed,
With crawling woodbine over-spread:
By which the silver-shedding streams
Shall gently melt thee into dreams.

Thy clothing next, shall be a gown
Made of the fleeces' purest down.
The tongues of kids shall be thy meat;
Their milk thy drink; and thou shalt eat

The paste of filberts for thy bread
With cream of cowslips buttered:
Thy feasting-table shall be hills
With daisies spread, and daffadils.

Come, live with me, and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That hills and valleys, dale and field,
And all the craggy mountains yield.

There will we sit upon the rocks,
And see the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers, to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

There will I make thee beds of roses
With a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me, and be my love.

Thy silver dishes for thy meat
As precious as the gods do eat,
Shall on an ivory table be
Prepared each day for thee and me.

The shepherd swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May-morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me, and be my love.

The Themes

The poem is a pastoral love poem, which means it celebrates the joys of rural life and the pleasures of love. The speaker, who is presumably a shepherd, invites his beloved Phillis to come and live with him in the countryside. He promises to provide her with all the pleasures that nature can offer, including sweet food, soft beds, and beautiful scenery. The poem is full of romantic imagery, such as beds of roses, fragrant posies, and embroidered kirtles. The speaker is trying to persuade Phillis to be his love and to share his life with him, and he uses the beauty of nature to entice her.

The poem also explores the theme of time and mortality. The speaker acknowledges that life is short and that they should make the most of it while they can. He urges Phillis to come and live with him and to enjoy the pleasures of life before it's too late. The poem is a celebration of life and love, and it encourages the reader to seize the moment and make the most of every day.

The Structure

The poem is written in rhyming couplets, which means that each stanza consists of two lines that rhyme. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to read and remember. The poem is also written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or stressed and unstressed syllables. This gives the poem a steady rhythm and a sense of stability.

The poem is divided into three parts. The first part consists of the first four stanzas, in which the speaker invites Phillis to come and live with him and promises to provide her with all the pleasures of the countryside. The second part consists of the next four stanzas, in which the speaker describes the beautiful scenery and romantic imagery that they will enjoy together. The third part consists of the final two stanzas, in which the speaker urges Phillis to come and live with him and to enjoy the pleasures of life before it's too late.

The Language

The language of the poem is simple and straightforward, but it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. The speaker uses the beauty of nature to persuade Phillis to come and live with him, and he describes the pleasures of life in vivid detail. He promises her sweet food, soft beds, and beautiful scenery, and he uses romantic imagery such as beds of roses, fragrant posies, and embroidered kirtles to entice her.

The language of the poem is also full of alliteration and assonance, which gives it a musical quality. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker says "What sweets the country can afford/Shall bless thy bed and bless thy board." The repetition of the "s" sound in "sweets," "country," "afford," "bless," "bed," and "board" creates a soft and soothing sound that is reminiscent of the countryside.

Conclusion

"To Phillis, to Love and Live with Him" is a classic poem by Robert Herrick that celebrates the joys of rural life and the pleasures of love. The poem is full of romantic imagery and beautiful language, and it encourages the reader to seize the moment and make the most of every day. The poem is a celebration of life and love, and it reminds us that we should enjoy the pleasures of life while we can.

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