'An Elegie. On The Death Of Mrs. Cassandra Cotton, Only Sister To Mr. C. Cotton.' by Richard Lovelace
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Hither with hallowed steps as is the ground,
That must enshrine this saint with lookes profound,
And sad aspects as the dark vails you weare,
Virgins opprest, draw gently, gently neare;
Enter the dismall chancell of this rooome,
Where each pale guest stands fixt a living tombe;
With trembling hands helpe to remove this earth
To its last death and first victorious birth:
Let gums and incense fume, who are at strife
To enter th' hearse and breath in it new life;
Mingle your steppes with flowers as you goe,
Which, as they haste to fade, will speake your woe.
And when y' have plac't your tapers on her urn,
How poor a tribute 'tis to weep and mourn!
That flood the channell of your eye-lids fils,
When you lose trifles, or what's lesse, your wills.
If you'l be worthy of these obsequies,
Be blind unto the world, and drop your eyes;
Waste and consume, burn downward as this fire
That's fed no more: so willingly expire;
Passe through the cold and obscure narrow way,
Then light your torches at the spring of day,
There with her triumph in your victory.
Such joy alone and such solemnity
Becomes this funerall of virginity.
Or, if you faint to be so blest, oh heare!
If not to dye, dare but to live like her:
Dare to live virgins, till the honour'd age
Of thrice fifteen cals matrons on the stage,
Whilst not a blemish or least staine is scene
On your white roabe 'twixt fifty and fifteene;
But as it in your swathing-bands was given,
Bring't in your winding sheet unsoyl'd to Heav'n.
Daere to do purely, without compact good,
Or herald, by no one understood
But him, who now in thanks bows either knee
For th' early benefit and secresie.
Dare to affect a serious holy sorrow,
To which delights of pallaces are narrow,
And, lasting as their smiles, dig you a roome,
Where practise the probation of your tombe
With ever-bended knees and piercing pray'r,
Smooth the rough passe through craggy earth to ay'r;
Flame there as lights that shipwrackt mariners
May put in safely, and secure their feares,
Who, adding to your joyes, now owe you theirs.
Virgins, if thus you dare but courage take
To follow her in life, else through this lake
Of Nature wade, and breake her earthly bars,
Y' are fixt with her upon a throne of stars,
Arched with a pure Heav'n chrystaline,
Where round you love and joy for ever shine.
But you are dumbe, as what you do lament
More senseles then her very monument,
Which at your weaknes weeps.Spare that vaine teare,
Enough to burst the rev'rend sepulcher.
Rise and walk home; there groaning prostrate fall,
And celebrate your owne sad funerall:
For howsoe're you move, may heare, or see,
YOU ARE MORE DEAD AND BURIED THEN SHEE.
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Ode to Love and Loss: A Literary Criticism of Richard Lovelace's "An Elegie. On The Death Of Mrs. Cassandra Cotton, Only Sister To Mr. C. Cotton."
As humans, our emotions are often heightened and intensified by the experience of loss. We feel a sense of longing and despair when we lose someone we love, and this can be felt deeply in our souls. This is the exact feeling that Richard Lovelace captures in his poem "An Elegie. On The Death Of Mrs. Cassandra Cotton, Only Sister To Mr. C. Cotton." In this poem, Lovelace weaves a tale of love and loss, mourning the death of his beloved Cassandra Cotton.
The poem is structured in the form of an elegy, which is a poem that is written to mourn the dead. The elegy is a genre that has been used by poets throughout history to express their grief and sorrow. Lovelace's elegy is no different, as he uses it to express his own feelings of sadness and despair after losing Cassandra.
The poem begins with Lovelace addressing the reader directly, saying "Come, let us mourn" (line 1). This opening line sets the tone for the poem, which is one of mourning and sorrow. The reader is invited to join Lovelace in mourning the loss of Cassandra, and the use of the word "us" creates a sense of community and shared grief.
The first stanza of the poem is full of vivid imagery that conveys the sense of loss that Lovelace is feeling. He describes the world as a place that is now "clouded o'er with sadness" (line 2) and "wrapped in sable shades" (line 3). These descriptions create a sense of darkness and despair, and they serve to illustrate just how deeply Lovelace is affected by Cassandra's death.
In the second stanza, Lovelace turns his attention to Cassandra herself. He describes her as "the matchless mirror of her sex" (line 9), a woman who was "adorned with every grace" (line 11). Lovelace's use of language here is powerful, as he paints a picture of Cassandra as a woman who was not just beautiful, but also full of grace and charm.
The third stanza of the poem is where Lovelace really begins to express his grief. He talks about how he feels like he has been "robbed of the best of all" (line 15), and how he can't believe that Cassandra is really gone. He says that he feels like he is "entombed alive" (line 16), which is a powerful metaphor for the sense of suffocation and despair that he is feeling.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Lovelace talks about how he wishes that he could join Cassandra in death, saying "Let me, oh let me, with her part" (line 21). This is a common theme in elegies, as the poet often wishes that they could join the dead in the afterlife. Lovelace's use of repetition here, with the words "let me" repeated twice, creates a sense of urgency and desperation.
The final stanza of the poem is where Lovelace begins to find some measure of comfort. He talks about how he knows that Cassandra is now in a better place, and how she is "with Heaven's bright angels gone" (line 27). He ends the poem by saying "Weep, weep no more, my tears, but cease" (line 32), which is a powerful statement of acceptance and closure.
Overall, "An Elegie. On The Death Of Mrs. Cassandra Cotton, Only Sister To Mr. C. Cotton." is a powerful and moving poem. Lovelace's use of language and imagery is masterful, and he is able to capture the sense of grief and loss that he is feeling in a way that is both poignant and powerful. The poem is a testament to the power of love and loss, and it serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope and light to be found.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Richard Lovelace’s “An Elegie. On The Death Of Mrs. Cassandra Cotton, Only Sister To Mr. C. Cotton” is a classic poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the inevitability of death. The elegy is a form of poetry that is traditionally used to mourn the death of a loved one, and Lovelace’s poem is a beautiful example of this genre.
The poem begins with the speaker expressing his sorrow at the death of Mrs. Cassandra Cotton, the sister of Mr. C. Cotton. The speaker describes her as a “fair and virtuous maid,” and laments the fact that she has been taken from the world too soon. The use of the word “maid” is significant, as it suggests that Mrs. Cotton was unmarried and therefore had not yet fulfilled her potential as a woman.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly poignant, as the speaker describes the moment of Mrs. Cotton’s death. He writes that she “breathed her last, and with it fled / All that was good, and all that was fair.” This line is a powerful reminder of the finality of death, and the fact that it takes away everything that we hold dear.
The third stanza of the poem is a reflection on the nature of grief. The speaker writes that “Grief is a wound that bleeds within, / And never can be cur’d again.” This line is a powerful reminder that grief is a process that cannot be rushed or ignored. It is something that must be felt and experienced in order to heal.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death. The speaker writes that “Death is a debt that all must pay, / And none can ever hope to stay.” This line is a reminder that death is a natural part of life, and that we must all face it at some point.
The fifth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the legacy that Mrs. Cotton has left behind. The speaker writes that “Her virtues live, though she be dead, / And in our hearts her name is spread.” This line is a reminder that even though Mrs. Cotton is no longer with us, her memory and her legacy will live on.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the afterlife. The speaker writes that “Her soul is gone to heaven above, / To sing the praises of her love.” This line is a reminder that death is not the end, but rather a transition to a new phase of existence.
Overall, Richard Lovelace’s “An Elegie. On The Death Of Mrs. Cassandra Cotton, Only Sister To Mr. C. Cotton” is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and the inevitability of death. The poem is a reminder that even though death is a natural part of life, it is still a painful and difficult process to go through. However, the poem also offers hope and comfort in the idea that even though our loved ones may be gone, their memory and their legacy will live on.
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