'Elegy XVIII: Love's Progress' by John Donne
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Who ever loves, if he do not propose
The right true end of love, he's one that goes
To sea for nothing but to make him sick.
Love is a bear-whelp born: if we o'erlick
Our love, and force it new strange shapes to take,
We err, and of a lump a monster make.
Were not a calf a monster that were grown
Faced like a man, though better than his own?
Perfection is in unity: prefer
One woman first, and then one thing in her.
I, when I value gold, may think upon
The ductileness, the application,
The wholsomeness, the ingenuity,
From rust, from soil, from fire ever free;
But if I love it, 'tis because 'tis made
By our new nature (Use) the soul of trade.
All these in women we might think upon
(If women had them) and yet love but one.
Can men more injure women than to say
They love them for that by which they're not they?
Makes virtue woman? Must I cool my blood
Till I both be, and find one, wise and good?
May barren angels love so! But if we
Make love to woman, virtue is not she,
As beauty's not, nor wealth. He that strays thus
From her to hers is more adulterous
Than if he took her maid. Search every sphere
And firmament, our Cupid is not there;
He's an infernal god, and under ground
With Pluto dwells, where gold and fire abound:
Men to such gods their sacrificing coals
Did not in altars lay, but pits and holes.
Although we see celestial bodies move
Above the earth, the earth we till and love:
So we her airs contemplate, words and heart
And virtues, but we love the centric part.
Nor is the soul more worthy, or more fit,
For love than this, as infinite is it.
But in attaining this desired place
How much they err that set out at the face.
The hair a forest is of ambushes,
Of springs, snares, fetters and manacles;
The brow becalms us when 'tis smooth and plain,
And when 'tis wrinkled shipwrecks us again-Smooth, 'tis a paradise where we would have
Immortal stay, and wrinkled 'tis our grave.
The nose (like to the first meridian) runs
Not 'twixt an East and West, but 'twixt two suns;
It leaves a cheek, a rosy hemisphere,
On either side, and then directs us where
Upon the Islands Fortunate we fall,
(Not faint Canaries, but Ambrosial)
Her swelling lips; to which when we are come,
We anchor there, and think ourselves at home,
For they seem all: there Sirens' songs, and there
Wise Delphic oracles do fill the ear;
There in a creek where chosen pearls do swell,
The remora, her cleaving tongue doth dwell.
These, and the glorious promontory, her chin,
O'erpassed, and the straight Hellespont between
The Sestos and Abydos of her breasts,
(Not of two lovers, but two loves the nests)
Succeeds a boundless sea, but yet thine eye
Some island moles may scattered there descry;
And sailing towards her India, in that way
Shall at her fair Atlantic navel stay;
Though thence the current be thy pilot made,
Yet ere thou be where thou wouldst be embayed
Thou shalt upon another forest set,
Where many shipwreck and no further get.
When thou art there, consider what this chase
Misspent by thy beginning at the face.
Rather set out below; practise my art.
Some symetry the foot hath with that part
Which thou dost seek, and is thy map for that,
Lovely enough to stop, but not stay at;
Least subject to disguise and change it is-Men say the devil never can change his.
It is the emblem that hath figured
Firmness; 'tis the first part that comes to bed.
Civility we see refined; the kiss
Which at the face began, transplanted is,
Since to the hand, since to the imperial knee,
Now at the papal foot delights to be:
If kings think that the nearer way, and do
Rise from the foot, lovers may do so too;
For as free spheres move faster far than can
Birds, whom the air resists, so may that man
Which goes this empty and ethereal way,
Than if at beauty's elements he stay.
Rich nature hath in women wisely made
Two purses, and their mouths aversely laid:
They then which to the lower tribute owe
That way which that exchequer looks must go:
He which doth not, his error is as great
As who by clyster gave the stomach meat.
Editor 1 Interpretation
John Donne's Elegy XVIII: Love's Progress
Wow, just wow! John Donne's Elegy XVIII: Love's Progress is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love's journey. The imagery and metaphors used in this poem are simply mind-blowing. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the themes of the poem and explore how Donne uses language to convey his message.
Summary of the Poem
Elegy XVIII: Love's Progress is a poem that describes the different stages of love. The poem opens with the speaker describing the initial stages of love, where the lovers are consumed by passion and lust. The speaker compares this stage to the first dawn of the day, where the sun is just starting to rise, and the world is covered in a mist that slowly lifts.
The poem then moves on to describe the next stage of love, where the lovers have become more comfortable with each other, and their passion has turned into a deep affection. The speaker compares this stage to the midday sun, where the world is at its brightest and most intense.
The final stage of love is then described, where the lovers have grown old together, and their passion has turned into a deep and abiding love. The speaker compares this stage to the sunset, where the world is at its most beautiful and peaceful.
Themes in the Poem
The central theme of the poem is the journey of love. Donne portrays love as a journey that has different stages, each with its own unique characteristics. The poem explores the different phases of love, from the initial stages of passion and lust, through the stages of deep affection and intimacy, and finally to the stage of enduring love.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the transience of life. Donne uses the imagery of the sunrise, midday, and sunset to convey the idea that life is fleeting and that love is something that must be experienced and enjoyed while it lasts.
The poem also explores the idea of the passage of time. Donne uses the imagery of the sun to convey the idea that time is constantly moving forward, and that the stages of love are something that we all experience as we age.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic and musical quality. The use of rhyme and alliteration also adds to the musicality of the poem. The first stanza of the poem, for example, is filled with alliteration, with words like "frost," "fumes," and "fancies" all beginning with the same sound.
Donne also uses a number of metaphors and imagery to convey his message. The sunrise, midday sun, and sunset are all used as metaphors for the different stages of love. The sunrise represents the initial stages of love, where passion and lust are at their height. The midday sun represents the stage of deep affection and intimacy, where the lovers have grown comfortable with each other. The sunset represents the final stage of love, where the passion has turned into a deep and abiding love.
The use of imagery is also important in conveying the transience of life. The metaphor of the sunrise, midday sun, and sunset is used to convey the idea that life is fleeting and that we must enjoy love while we can. The image of the mist lifting in the first stanza, for example, is used to convey the idea that life is constantly changing and that we must be open to new experiences.
The poem is also filled with paradoxes and contradictions. In the first stanza, for example, the speaker describes the mist lifting, but then goes on to say that the lovers are still consumed by a "frost" that never melts. This paradoxical image of the mist and the frost is used to convey the idea that love is both fleeting and enduring.
The poem also explores the idea of the passage of time. The use of the sun as a metaphor for time is used to convey the idea that time is constantly moving forward. The idea that the lovers grow old together is used to convey the idea that time is something that we all must face.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John Donne's Elegy XVIII: Love's Progress is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love's journey. The poem explores the different stages of love, from the initial stages of passion and lust, through the stages of deep affection and intimacy, and finally to the stage of enduring love.
Donne uses language in a truly masterful way to convey his message. The use of metaphors and imagery, as well as paradoxes and contradictions, all contribute to the poem's musicality and depth.
Overall, I would highly recommend this poem to anyone interested in exploring the themes of love and the passage of time. The poem is a true work of art and a testament to the brilliance of John Donne.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Donne's Elegy XVIII: Love's Progress is a classic poem that explores the journey of love and its various stages. The poem is a beautiful representation of the complexities of love and how it evolves over time. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each representing a different stage of love. The first stanza talks about the initial stage of love, where the lovers are consumed by passion and desire. Donne describes this stage as a "fever" that burns within the lovers, making them restless and unable to sleep. The imagery used in this stanza is vivid and intense, with words like "flame," "burn," and "furnace" used to describe the intensity of the lovers' emotions.
The second stanza talks about the next stage of love, where the lovers have moved beyond the initial passion and are now in a more stable and mature relationship. Donne describes this stage as a "temperate zone," where the lovers are no longer consumed by their passion but have found a balance in their relationship. The imagery used in this stanza is more subdued, with words like "calm," "cool," and "moderate" used to describe the lovers' emotions.
The third and final stanza talks about the ultimate stage of love, where the lovers have transcended the physical and emotional aspects of their relationship and have become one with each other. Donne describes this stage as a "heavenly sphere," where the lovers are united in a spiritual sense. The imagery used in this stanza is ethereal and otherworldly, with words like "pure," "bright," and "angelic" used to describe the lovers' emotions.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of love as a journey. Donne portrays love as a progression from the initial passion and desire to a more mature and stable relationship, and finally to a spiritual union. This theme is reflected in the structure of the poem, with each stanza representing a different stage of love.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of love as a transformative force. Donne suggests that love has the power to change people and to bring them closer to a higher spiritual plane. This theme is reflected in the imagery used in the third stanza, where the lovers are described as being united in a heavenly sphere.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices to convey its themes and ideas. One of the most prominent devices used in the poem is imagery. Donne uses vivid and evocative imagery to describe the different stages of love and to convey the emotions of the lovers. For example, in the first stanza, he uses the image of a furnace to describe the intensity of the lovers' passion, while in the third stanza, he uses the image of a heavenly sphere to describe the spiritual union of the lovers.
Another literary device used in the poem is metaphor. Donne uses metaphor to compare love to a journey, a fever, a temperate zone, and a heavenly sphere. These metaphors help to convey the different stages of love and to give the reader a sense of the transformative power of love.
The poem also makes use of rhyme and meter to create a musical and rhythmic effect. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, with each line consisting of ten syllables. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCC, with the final couplet providing a sense of closure and resolution.
In conclusion, John Donne's Elegy XVIII: Love's Progress is a beautiful and evocative poem that explores the journey of love and its various stages. The poem is a testament to the transformative power of love and its ability to bring people closer to a higher spiritual plane. Through its vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and musical language, the poem captures the complexities of love and the human experience. It is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
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