'Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress' by Richard Crashaw
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Whoe'er she be,
That not impossible she
That shall command my heart and me;Where'er she lie,
Locked up from mortal eye
In shady leaves of destiny:Till that ripe birth
Of studied fate stand forth,
And teach her fair steps to our earth;Till that divine
Idea take a shrine
Of crystal flesh, through which to shine:Meet you her, my wishes,
Bespeak her to my blisses,
And be ye called my absent kisses.I wish her beauty,
That owes not all its duty
To gaudy tire, or glist'ring shoe-tie;Something more than
Taffata or tissue can,
Or rampant feather, or rich fan;More than the spoil
Of shop, or silkworm's toil,
Or a bought blush, or a set smile.A face that's best
By its own beauty drest,
And can alone commend the rest:A face made up
Out of no other shop
Than what nature's white hand sets ope.A cheek where youth
And blood with pen of truth
Write what the reader sweetly ru'th.A cheek where grows
More than a morning rose,
Which to no box his being owes.Lips, where all day
A lovers kiss may play,
Yet carry nothing thence away.Looks that oppress
Their richest tires, but dress
And clothe their simplest nakedness.Eyes, that displaces
The neighbour diamond, and outfaces
That sunshine by their own sweet graces.Tresses, that wear
Jewels, but to declare
How much themselves more precious are;Whose native ray
Can tame the wanton day
Of gems that in their bright shades play.Each ruby there,
Or pearl that dare appear,
Be its own blush, be its own tear.A well-tamed heart,
For whose more noble smart
Love may be long choosing a dart.Eyes, that bestow
Full quivers on Love's bow,
Yet pay less arrows than they owe.Smiles, that can warm
The blood, yet teach a charm,
That chastity shall take no harm.Blushes, that bin
The burnish of no sin,
Nor flames of aught too hot within.Joyes, that confess
Virtue their mistress,
And have no other head to dress.Fears, fond and flight
As the coy bride's when night
First does the longing lover right.Tears, quickly fled
And vain as those are shed
For a dying maidenhead.Days, that need borrow
No part of their good morrow
From a forspent night of sorrow.Days, that, in spite
Of darkness, by the light
Of a clear mind are day all night.Nights, sweet as they,
Made short by lovers' play,
Yet long by th' absence of the day.Life, that dares send
A challenge to its end,
And when it comes say Welcome Friend.Sydneian showers
Of sweet discourse, whose powers
Can crown old winter's head with flowers.Soft silken hours,
Open suns, shady bowers
'Bove all; nothing within that lours.Whate'er delight
Can make day's forehead bright,
Or give down to the wings of night.In her whole frame
Have nature all the name,
Art and ornament the shame.Her flattery
Picture and poesy,
Her counsel her own virtue be.I wish her store
Of worth may leave her poor
Of wishes; and I wish-no more.Now, if Time knows
That Her, whose radiant brows
Weave them a garland of my vows;Her, whose just bays
My future hopes can raise,
A trophy to her present praise;Her, that dares be
What these lines wish to see:
I seek no further, it is she.'Tis she, and here
Lo! I unclothe and clear
My wishes' cloudy character.May she enjoy it,
Whose merit dare apply it,
But modesty dares still deny it!Such worth as this is
Shall fix my flying wishes,
And determine them to kisses.Let her full glory,
My fancies, fly before ye;
Be ye my fictions, but her story.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" by Richard Crashaw: A Poetic Exploration of Love and Desire
As a lover of classical poetry, I have always been fascinated by Richard Crashaw's "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress." This stunning masterpiece, written in the seventeenth century, is a beautiful exploration of love and desire that captivates the reader with its lyrical beauty and depth of emotion. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the themes, structure, and language of this poem to uncover its underlying meaning and significance.
The Themes of Love and Desire
At its core, "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is a poem about love and desire. The speaker, who is assumed to be Crashaw himself, expresses his longing for his beloved and his desire to be with her. The poem is structured around a series of wishes that the speaker makes for his mistress, each one expressing a different aspect of his love and desire for her.
The poem's opening lines set the tone for what is to come:
Whoe'er she be,
That not impossible She
That shall command my heart and me
Where'er she lie,
Locked up from mortal eye
In shady leaves of destiny:
Here, the speaker is addressing his beloved, whoever she may be. He acknowledges that she may be out of reach, hidden from view in the "shady leaves of destiny." Nevertheless, he declares his devotion to her, stating that she will "command my heart and me" regardless of where she may be.
Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses his desire for physical intimacy with his mistress, describing his longing to be close to her:
Oh! that I were
Where I would be,
Then should I see
Whether the breath I breathe
Be love or no.
He longs to be with her so that he can "see / Whether the breath I breathe / Be love or no." This desire for physical proximity is a recurring theme throughout the poem and reflects the speaker's intense longing for his beloved.
However, the poem also explores the idea of spiritual love and the possibility of connecting with one's beloved on a deeper, more profound level. The speaker expresses his desire to be united with his mistress not just physically but spiritually as well:
And if by no means can be found
Such liberty, such bounds
I'll still be true
To my best bliss and you,
An't please you, Lord, may 't be so, Amen.
Here, the speaker acknowledges that it may be impossible for him to be physically united with his beloved. Nevertheless, he vows to remain true to her and to seek a deeper connection with her, even if it is only spiritual.
The Structure of the Poem
"Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is structured around a series of wishes that the speaker makes for his beloved. Each wish expresses a different aspect of the speaker's love and desire for his mistress, and together they form a cohesive narrative that explores the theme of love and desire.
The first wish expresses the speaker's desire to be close to his beloved:
Oh! that I were
Where I would be,
Then should I see
Whether the breath I breathe
Be love or no.
Here, the speaker longs to be with his beloved so that he can determine whether his feelings for her are genuine. He wishes to be close enough to her to feel her breath and to know for sure whether his love is real.
The second wish expresses the speaker's desire for physical intimacy:
Ask me no more
whither doth haste
The nightingale when May is past;
For in your sweet dividing throat
She winters, and keeps warm her note.
In this wish, the speaker uses the image of the nightingale to express his desire for physical intimacy with his beloved. He asks to be "divided" in her "throat" and to winter there, keeping warm with her love.
The third wish explores the idea of spiritual love:
And if by no means can be found
Such liberty, such bounds
I'll still be true
To my best bliss and you,
An't please you, Lord, may 't be so, Amen.
Here, the speaker acknowledges that physical union with his beloved may be impossible. Nevertheless, he vows to remain true to her and to seek a deeper connection with her on a spiritual level.
The Language of the Poem
One of the most striking features of "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is its language. The poem is written in a lyrical, musical style that captures the beauty and intensity of the speaker's emotions.
The use of imagery is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's desires and emotions. The image of the nightingale, for example, is used to express the speaker's desire for physical intimacy with his beloved. The image of the "shady leaves of destiny" is used to convey the idea that his beloved may be out of reach.
The language of the poem is also characterized by its use of repetition. The phrase "oh that I were" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's intense longing to be with his beloved. The repetition of the phrase "An't please you, Lord, may 't be so, Amen" at the end of each wish reinforces the speaker's desire for spiritual union with his beloved.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is a stunning masterpiece of classical poetry that explores the themes of love and desire with sensitivity and depth. The poem's structure, language, and imagery all work together to convey the intensity of the speaker's emotions and his longing for his beloved. Through its exploration of physical and spiritual love, the poem speaks to the universal human experience of longing for connection and intimacy with another.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Wishes to His (Supposed) Mistress: A Masterpiece of Baroque Poetry
Richard Crashaw, a 17th-century English poet, is known for his religious poetry and his contribution to the Baroque style of poetry. His work, Poetry Wishes to His (Supposed) Mistress, is a prime example of his mastery of the Baroque style. This poem is a complex and intricate piece of writing that requires a deep understanding of the Baroque style to fully appreciate its beauty and complexity.
The poem is written in the form of a dialogue between Poetry and his supposed mistress. The poem begins with Poetry addressing his mistress, asking her to listen to his wishes. He then proceeds to describe his wishes in a series of metaphors and allegories that are typical of the Baroque style.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Poetry begins by addressing his mistress and asking her to listen to his wishes. He then proceeds to describe his wishes in a series of metaphors and allegories that are typical of the Baroque style. He compares his wishes to a bird that is flying towards the sun, a ship that is sailing towards the shore, and a flower that is blooming in the spring. These metaphors are used to convey the idea that Poetry's wishes are pure and innocent, and that they are driven by a desire for beauty and perfection.
In the second stanza, Poetry continues to describe his wishes, using more elaborate metaphors and allegories. He compares his wishes to a pearl that is hidden in the depths of the sea, a diamond that is buried in the earth, and a rose that is hidden in a thorn bush. These metaphors are used to convey the idea that Poetry's wishes are precious and valuable, and that they are worth pursuing even if they are difficult to attain.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most complex and intricate. In this stanza, Poetry uses a series of paradoxes and oxymorons to describe his wishes. He describes his wishes as both "sweet and sour," "bright and dark," and "soft and hard." These paradoxes and oxymorons are used to convey the idea that Poetry's wishes are complex and multifaceted, and that they cannot be easily understood or attained.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most beautiful and poignant. In this stanza, Poetry describes his wishes as a "heavenly flame" that is burning in his heart. He then asks his mistress to come and join him in pursuing these wishes, saying that together they can "make the world a paradise." This final stanza is a powerful expression of the Baroque ideal of beauty and perfection, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit.
In conclusion, Poetry Wishes to His (Supposed) Mistress is a masterpiece of Baroque poetry. It is a complex and intricate piece of writing that requires a deep understanding of the Baroque style to fully appreciate its beauty and complexity. The poem is a powerful expression of the Baroque ideal of beauty and perfection, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and uplift the human spirit. If you are a fan of Baroque poetry, then this poem is a must-read.
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