'Song To A Fair Young Lady Going Out Of Town In the Spring' by John Dryden


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Ask not the cause why sullen spring
So long delays her flow'rs to bear;
Why warbling birds forget to sing,
And winter storms invert the year?
Chloris is gone; and Fate provides
To make it spring where she resides.

Chloris is gone, the cruel fair;
She cast not back a pitying eye:
But left her lover in despair,
To sigh, to languish, and to die:
Ah, how can those fair eyes endure
To give the wounds they will not cure!

Great god of Love, why hast thou made
A face that can all hearts command,
That all religions can invade,
And change the laws of ev'ry land?
Where thou hadst plac'd such pow'r before,
Thou shouldst have made her mercy more.

When Chloris to the temple comes,
Adoring crowds before her fall;
She can restore the dead from tombs,
And ev'ry life but mine recall.
I only am by love design'd
To be the victim for mankind.


Editor 1 Interpretation

Song To A Fair Young Lady Going Out Of Town In the Spring: A Masterpiece of John Dryden

Are you a fan of poetry that is both passionate and lyrical? If so, then John Dryden's "Song to a Fair Young Lady Going Out of Town in the Spring" is definitely worth your time. This poem, written in the 17th century, is an excellent example of Dryden's talent for crafting poetry that is both beautiful and emotionally charged.

Background Information

Before diving into the poem itself, it's important to understand a bit about John Dryden's life and career. Dryden was a prominent English poet, playwright, and literary critic who lived from 1631 to 1700. He is best known for his role in the Restoration Period, during which he served as Poet Laureate to King Charles II.

During his career, Dryden wrote a wide variety of works, including plays, essays, and poems. His poetry was particularly well-regarded, with many of his works being considered classics of the genre. "Song to a Fair Young Lady Going Out of Town in the Spring" is one of Dryden's most famous poems and is a favorite among fans of his work.

Interpretation

So, what makes "Song to a Fair Young Lady Going Out of Town in the Spring" such a great poem? To answer that question, we need to take a closer look at the poem's structure, language, and overall themes.

Structure

The poem is composed of four stanzas, each containing four lines. This structure is known as a quatrain and is a common one in poetry. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB, meaning that the first and third lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, as do the second and fourth lines.

At first glance, this structure may seem simple, but it actually serves to create a sense of rhythm and flow in the poem. The repetition of the ABAB rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical quality, almost as though it could be set to music and sung.

Language

One of the most striking things about this poem is its language. Dryden uses a variety of poetic devices to create a sense of beauty and passion in the poem. For example, he uses metaphors and similes to compare the young lady to various natural elements.

In the first stanza, he compares her to a flower that is just coming into bloom. In the second stanza, he compares her to a bird that is leaving its nest to explore the world. These comparisons serve to elevate the young lady and make her seem even more beautiful and desirable.

Dryden also uses imagery to create a sense of movement and energy in the poem. In the third stanza, he describes the young lady's departure as "Jocund Day / Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops." This description creates a sense of excitement and anticipation, as though the entire world is waiting for the young lady to set out on her journey.

Themes

At its core, "Song to a Fair Young Lady Going Out of Town in the Spring" is a poem about love and longing. The speaker of the poem is clearly enamored with the young lady and is sad to see her go. However, rather than dwelling on his own feelings, the speaker instead focuses on the young lady herself, describing her beauty and grace in vivid detail.

There is also a sense of nostalgia in the poem, as though the speaker is aware of the fleeting nature of beauty and youth. He knows that the young lady will not be young and carefree forever and that she will eventually have to face the harsh realities of life. This sense of nostalgia adds a bittersweet quality to the poem, making it even more poignant.

Conclusion

Overall, "Song to a Fair Young Lady Going Out of Town in the Spring" is a beautiful and moving poem that showcases John Dryden's talents as a poet. Through its structure, language, and themes, the poem creates a sense of beauty and passion that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.

Whether you are a fan of classic poetry or are simply looking for something new to read, this poem is definitely worth your time. So why not give it a try? Who knows, you might just fall in love with it just like the speaker fell in love with the young lady.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Dryden’s “Song To A Fair Young Lady Going Out Of Town In the Spring” is a classic poem that captures the essence of spring and the emotions that come with it. The poem is a beautiful tribute to a young lady who is leaving town in the spring, and it is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that bring the season to life.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the young lady, who is leaving town in the spring. The speaker expresses his sadness at her departure, but also his joy at the arrival of spring. He says, “Ask not the cause why sullen spring / So long delays her flowers to bear; / Why warbling birds forget to sing, / And winter storms invert the year.” The speaker is acknowledging the fact that spring has been delayed, but he is also saying that it doesn’t matter because the young lady is leaving town.

The second stanza of the poem is where the imagery really comes to life. The speaker says, “Chloris! whose beauty’s heavenly ray / All that’s divine in man conveys, / Beauty so pure and so divine / That Venus but herself would own / A fairer in her Paphian grove, / When she would want a queen to love.” Chloris is the young lady that the speaker is addressing, and he is saying that her beauty is so divine that it could only come from heaven. He compares her to Venus, the goddess of love, and says that even Venus would acknowledge Chloris as being fairer than any other queen in her grove.

The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker really expresses his sadness at Chloris’ departure. He says, “Yet Chloris! you that far excel / Whatever yet in beauty shined, / Come back, and grace our wonderous isle, / With all the charms you leave behind.” The speaker is begging Chloris to come back to the island and grace it with her beauty once again. He is saying that she is so beautiful that she far surpasses anyone else who has ever shined in beauty.

The fourth stanza of the poem is where the speaker really brings the season of spring to life. He says, “The swallow, oft, beneath my thatch / Shall twitter from her clay-built nest; / Oft shall the pilgrim lift the latch, / And share my meal, a welcome guest.” The speaker is saying that spring is a time of renewal and new beginnings. The swallow, which is a symbol of spring, will return to its nest beneath his thatch. The pilgrim, who is also a symbol of spring, will come to his door and share his meal as a welcome guest.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem is where the speaker really expresses his love for Chloris. He says, “Around my ivied porch shall spring / Each fragrant flower that drinks the dew; / And Lucy at her wheel shall sing / In russet gown and apron blue.” The speaker is saying that he will surround his porch with fragrant flowers that drink the dew of spring. Lucy, who is a symbol of spring, will sing at her wheel in her russet gown and apron blue. The speaker is saying that he will do everything in his power to make Chloris feel loved and appreciated.

In conclusion, John Dryden’s “Song To A Fair Young Lady Going Out Of Town In the Spring” is a beautiful tribute to a young lady who is leaving town in the spring. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that bring the season to life, and it expresses the speaker’s sadness at Chloris’ departure, but also his joy at the arrival of spring. The poem is a classic example of the beauty of poetry and the power of language to capture the essence of a season and the emotions that come with it.

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