[158] To His Coy Mistress
Guest poem sent in by Vikram Doctor - <vikdoc@>
Semiperiodic reminder - do keep submitting guest poems, people. And thanks
to Vikram for the number of excellent pieces he has sent in.
Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, Lady, were no crime
We would sit down and think which way
To walk and pass our long love's day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shoulds't rubies find: I by the tide
Oh Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood,
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest.
No age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, Lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always hear
Time's wing'ed chariot hurrying near
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy duty shall no more be found,
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song: then worms shall try
That long preserved virginity.
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust.
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may,
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour
Than languish in his slow-chapt power
Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one ball,
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Through the iron gates of life
Thus though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
-- Andrew Marvell
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Marvell's poem is charming and funny, but the reason I'm sending this is not
so much for the poem itself, as for how a friend of mine used it to get some
rather unlikely people to appreciate poetry. These were a group of college
jocks whom my friend was tutoring to prepare them for foreign study exams.
Marvell's poem was part of the syllabus and as might be expected, my friend
was not making much headway. He explained the meter, and the rhyme, and
Marvell's background, but all he was getting was waves of boredom. Finally,
he said, "listen guys, you know what this poem is about? Its about not
getting laid. The writer is complaining that his girlfriend is not giving
him enough"... After that tuition programme was over one of the jocks'
mother told him, "I'm really impressed by your teaching. I don't know how
you've done it, but my son is really into literature and poetry now."
Vikram Doctor
From: Ajtimbs@
Hi, I am writing an interpritation of Andrew Marvell "To His Coy Mistress"
and I am stumped on the part when he says, Thou by the Indian Ganges side
shouldst rubies find I by the tide of Humber would complain. If you have any
insite I would be interested.
Thanks, Meagan
From: "jm.wilson" <jm.wilson@>
I think that Marvell is making an ironic contrast between the exotic
river Ganges in India and the rather more pedestrian river Humber in
Yorkshire, England.(Marvell was a native of this part of Yorkshire.)Hope
this helps.
Anne W
From: Deborah Didden <dkayd@>
I would like to thank you for having such a string on the net. If you
know of any more similar, email me. housmt_chs@ I
teach Brit Lit and enjoy using THCM for an essay length writing and
project assignment. What do you think about "...amorous birds of
prey..."? I enjoy that one. Like the students' faces when they
research the mating habits of raptors. Hope you or someone is out there
listening and enjoys discussing more along the lines of these lines.
V/R
T.L.Housman
Chester, South Carolina
From: <ruth@>
Slight typo above in the 3rd last line. It should be "thorough" not
"through". Same meaning I think at the time, but the extra beat of
"thorough" adds to that passionate, pounding, urgent, earthy beat of
that section, before Marvell changes pace with the a more spiritual,
wistful last couplet.
From: Parklie01@
HI,
I'm doing an English project where I have been asked to present this
particular poem and I need a song that would be considered a good
representation of what the poem is saying. Do you have any suggestions?
Sincerely,
Usagii
From: "Hilary Footitt" <hilaryjayne@>
Hi,
I am writting in response to the question that you left on a message
board, reguarding To His Coy Mistress.
I am writing an interpritation of Andrew Marvell "To His Coy Mistress"
and I am stumped on the part when he says, Thou by the Indian Ganges
side
shouldst rubies find I by the tide of Humber would complain. If you have
any
insite I would be interested.
In the time of Andrew Marvell and also of many other metaphysical poets
there were explorers such as Christopher Collumbus exploring the world,
and such poets like to incorparate these new lands and ideas into their
work.
Rubies were believed to preserve virginity, which in the first stanza
(the thesis) he is saying stating if they had enough time togethr that
is what he would like to do.
India was an exotic land, full of colour and herbs etc, this is ironic
because infact he is writting the poem next to the river Humber, which
isn't as exciting and as the river Ganges.
Hope that helps
Katy Tranter
From: Charlotte Ledbetter <charlie1015@>
First of all, I love you for this site! It is so helpful. Secondly I need help with a question for my english class. I need to explain the figures in lines 22, 24, and 40 and what their implications are. If anyone could tell me, I'd really appreciate it.
---------------------------------
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From: Martin DeMello <martindemello@>
--- Charlotte Ledbetter <charlie1015@> wrote:
> That's just the thing, I'm not sure what it means. I'm assuming it
> refers to the winged chariot in line 22, the deserts in 24, and in 40
> I have no clue. Does that help? I hope so because its 11:38 pm, I
> have millions of poems to decipher and all this due tomorrow!!! Don't
> think I'm going to make it.
They're a few of the various "aspects" of Time, as portrayed (and
sometimes personified) by Marvell.
Line 22 seems to be an allusion to Horace's Odes (see
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/horatius.htm), line 24 uses the desert to
evoke barrenness and death (equating sex to life, perhaps). Line 40
again is a "seize the day" argument (compare Millay's "My candle burns
at both ends/ It will not last the night...").
I suspect you know all that and are, like me, mystified more by the form
of the question :)
http://carolinanavy.com/fleet2/f2/zpoetry/Marvell,Andrewhall/cas/5.html
might be helpful too
martin
From: ssiyer@ Mon Dec 1 16:08:22 2003
hey, I had the same question, but just for the pleasure of poetry.
your insights are awsome, did you get them from years of study? Me, I
am a scientist and don't know notin. But I do love english poetry.
cheers
From: Hjb935@
what image in the third section contrast with the distance between the Ganges
and the Humber?
From: RongKathy@
Humber river is located in England, where Marvell lived all of his life,
which he considered a boring place. But the Ganges River in Indian is considered
an exotic place with many wonders. In a Formalistic view, during that time
period, England begin exploration and the discovery of exotic east. So the lady
is at the exotic east (admire her from far), with such a far distance between
them.
From: "Ning" <ng_bu@>
I would lkie to know the theme of this poem and what is the meaning of
this poem. Thanks for answer.
From: William Grey <wgrey@>
There are a couple of (obvious) typos in Marvell's 'To His Coy Mistress'; I
hope it's not too late to correct them. The first error is serious, the
second more pedantic -- perhaps even a legitimate modernization of the
spelling. (No such excuse for the first).
line 25: "duty" should be "beauty"
line 44: "through" should be "thorough"
William Grey
From: heathr3207@
you asked for a good song to accompany Marvel's poem "To His Coy Mistress"
.. on a message board.. i'm not sure if you still need this information but one
could be by Meatloaf, "Paradise by the dashboard lights"-- same thing ;)..
here are the lyrics below...
he's wanting to get laid, she's playing coy--holding out for his promise of
love...
(http://www.qgm.com/meatloaf/paradise.html)
I. Paradise
Boy:
I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Girl:
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Ain't no doubt about it
Baby got to go and shout it
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Boy:
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Baby doncha hear my heart
You got it drowning out the radio
I've been waiting so long
For you to come along and have some fun
And I gotta let ya know
No you're never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes I got a big surprise
It'll feel all right
Well I wanna make your motor run
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Though it's cold and lonley in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Paradise by the dashboard light
You got to do what you can
And let Mother Nature do the rest
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely--
We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go allt he way
An tonight's the night...
Radio Broadcast:
Ok, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker
going here, two down, nobody on, no score,
bottom of the ninth, there's the wind-up and
there it is, a line shot up the middle, look
at him go. This boy can really fly!
He's rounding first and really turning it on
now, he's not letting up at all, he's gonna
try for second; the ball is bobbled out in center,
and here comes the throw, and what a throw!
He's gonna slide in head first, here he comes, he's out!
No, wait, safe--safe at second base, this kid really
makes things happen out there.
Batter steps up to the plate, here's the pitch--
he's going, and what a jump he's got, he's trying
for third, here's the throw, it's in the dirt--
safe at third! Holy cow, stolen base!
He's taking a pretty big lead out there, almost
daring him to try and pick him off. The pitcher
glance over, winds up, and it's bunted, bunted
down the third base line, the suicide squeeze in on!
Here he comes, squeeze play, it's gonna be close,
here's the throw, there's the play at the plate,
holy cow, I think he's gonna make it!
II. Let Me Sleep On It
Girl:
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further--!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?
Do you need me!?
Will you never leave me!?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life!?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife!?
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me!!!?
Will you love me forever!!!?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Girl:
I gotta know right now!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
And will you love me forever?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it!!!
Girl:
Will you love me forever?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it!!!
Girl:
Will you love me forever!!!
III. Praying for the End of Time
Boy:
I couldn't take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!
So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do
Praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you!!!
Boy:
It was long ago and it was far away
and it was so much better than it is today
Girl:
It never felt so good
It never felt so right
And we were glowing like
A metal on the edge of a knife
From: SAIDSJ@
the poem t his coy mistress.
the part u were befumbled by...in those times when the poem was written the
ganges were considered of awe and wonder and humber which is a river in the
norht of england was considered a brong and rainy place. Andrew Marvell is
tryin to say that he would wait near humber while she travaled the exotics of the
world and he wouldnt mind thats how strong his love was for her.