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“ To His Coy Mistress”  by Andrew Marvell
A METAPHYSICAL POET Early 1600’s Concerned with what makes us human and what sets us aside from other animals Usually focus on “love” and “relationship with God” Poems structured as arguments Wit, irony, wordplay, often comic with serious topic underneath
THE CONCEIT An extended metaphor with a complex logic that governs an entire poem or poetic passage
EXAMPLE OF CONCEIT John Donne's "The Flea“, in which a flea that bites both the speaker and his lover becomes a conceit arguing that his lover has no reason to deny him sexually, although they are not married: Oh stay! three lives in one flea spare Where we almost, yea more than married are.    This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage-bed and marriage-temple is.
“ To His Coy Mistress”  by Andrew Marvell
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 Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of 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; An 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 winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserv'd 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 am'rous birds of prey, Rather at once our time devour, Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power. Let us roll all our strength, and all Our sweetness, up into one ball; And tear our pleasures with rough strife Thorough the iron gates of life. Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.
To His Coy Mistress  is one of many “seduction poems”.  The message is simple: the coyness of his mistress appeals to him, but life is too short to play games, so it's time to get serious.
To His Coy Mistress – The Argument [A] 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 Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of 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; An 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.        [B] But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserv'd 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. [C]          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 am'rous birds of prey, Rather at once our time devour, Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power. Let us roll all our strength, and all Our sweetness, up into one ball; And tear our pleasures with rough strife Thorough the iron gates of life. Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.  THESIS: The ideal state (”Had we…”) ANTITHESIS: The real situation (”But at…”) SYNTHESIS: What has to be done as necessary conclusion (”Now therefore…”)
Three Themes " Tempus fugit “ = time flies " Momento Mori " -this is a reminder of death.  In movies, the skull you sometimes see on the desk of a medieval monk is a  momento mori  reminding him of his own mortality.   " Carpe diem “ = seize the day.
Had we but world enough, and time, 1 This coyness, lady, were no crime. Shyness, reserve, unwillingness – fashionable for women to behave in this way at the time – at least initially How does this pronoun help to persuade?  United in their battle against time time, Theme is immediately introduced – brevity of human life and pursuits vs time – Carpe Diem: seize the day Argument begins by posing problem What is the problem/thesis/statement? What is he trying to achieve? An attempt to escape the ravages of time to an idyllic life where they may pass each “long love’s day” together. Lyric poem Octosyllabic lines (8 syllables per line) Regular “sing-song” rhythm and rhyme creates a “comic” feel which contrasts strongly with the underlying theme of life and death
We would sit down and think which way To walk, and pass our long love's day; Thou by the Indian Ganges' side 5 Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of Humber would complain.  c.1650 – time of exploration and discovery -  EFFECT OF COMPARISON? Her: by the side of the River Ganges in India with rubies Him: by the side of the River Humber in Hull FLATTERY!
I would Love you ten years before the Flood; And you should, if you please, refuse Till the conversion of the Jews. 10 My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow. Biblical Flood / Noah’s Ark Over 4000 years ago In Christian texts – just before the end of the world How long? HYPERBOLE? Why does he compare his love to a slow growing vegetable? Why does he use the phrase ‘vaster than empires”? How do we know he will not fall out of love with her quickly?
An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast, 15 But thirty thousand to the rest; An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. An  hundred years  should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred  to adore each breast, 15 But  thirty thousand  to the rest; An age  at least to every part, And  the last age  should show your heart. How is time used to praise and flatter her?
For, lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate. 20 He called her “Mistress” before. Why does he now call her “lady”? How does this tally with what follows in the poem?
But  at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. START OF ANTITHESIS: we’ve been given the opening statement (thesis), now he discusses the reason why he can’t do as he’d like – the “But” What reason does he give for not being able to do what he would like?
HELIOS (or Helius) was the Titan god of the sun. He was also the guardian of oaths and the god of gift of sight. Helios dwelt in a golden palace located in the River Okeanos at the eastern ends of the earth. From there he emerged each dawn driving a chariot drawn by four, fiery winged steeds and crowned with the aureole of the sun. When he reached the land of the Hesperides (Evenings) in the West he descended into a golden cup which carried him around the northern streams of Okeanos back to his rising place in the East.  ( www.theoi.com/Titan/Helios.html )
HELIOS
But  at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. START OF ANTITHESIS: we’ve been given the opening statement (thesis), now he discusses the reason why he can’t do as he’d like – the “But” Time = negative, lifeless eternity Rejection of afterlife which will bring relief Reflects rising religious scepticism of the time Desert image: barren, no sex = no children - dull relationship
Thy beauty shall no more be found,  25 Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserv'd virginity, And your  quaint  honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust. 30 The grave's a fine and private place, But none I think do there embrace. Elegant but artificial – all very nice and honourable but worthless to him
Now therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew, And while thy willing soul transpires   35 At every pore with instant fires, SYNTHESIS – THE SOLUTION The threats disappear – approaches her more positively
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-chapp'd power. 40 More passionate images and words Hoping to gain eternity through sexual union – they should devour time rather than time devouring them Slow devouring jaws of time
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. Plural pronoun – union, togetherness Break down the “iron gates” of time
Thus, though we cannot make our sun   45 Stand still, yet we will make him run. Returns to the image of sun and time. What is his final point? On the surface, this poem is about the attempted seduction of a woman…what is the message underneath about how we should live our lives? PUN?
Time flies?
Marvell’s speaker, who apparently has been searching for the meaning of existence, has determined that  life is transitory , that there is  no afterlife , and that the only option left is for him in his life is to  fully indulge in carnal pleasure.
Lines 1-20 Marvell uses a logical form called a conditional statement. (If . . . then.)  If time did not fly, then we could take all the time we need before we actually consummate the relationship. They could take all the time from 10 years before Noah's flood until the conversion of the Jews to Christianity at the end of time.  He would spend immense amounts of time on his praising of her. 100 years praising her eyes, 200 praising her breasts, etc.  But they can't. Why? We see in the next section
Lines 21-32 Tempus fugit: Time is flying & we must act now. Momento mori: Her beauty will fade, & if she maintains her virginity until the grave, she'll just lose it to the worms. "I think" no one embraces in the grave. This is a poetic device called understatement. Of course no one embraces in the grave. There her honor will turn to dust & his lust into ashes.
Lines 33-46   Therefore, carpe diem: He shows the violence of love and life. "Amorous birds of prey."  They should attack each other like mating falcons. We should embrace our mortality (and each other) with a gleam in our eyes.  "At once our time devour."  "Thus, though we cannot make our sun  Stand still, yet we will make him run."  In other words, "Live hard, die young."
http://vccslitonline.vccs.edu/seduction-poetry/tohiscoymistress.html
TWO PARODIES
 
 
 
 
Overheard in the  'Coy Mistress‘ I think I need another gin - Your chat-up lines are wearing thin. In fact, you seem less hot than - coy. I start to feel you're just a boy. H ad we but world enough, and time,   T his coyness, Lady, were no crime. Good Sir, I think you may confuse A grim offence with simple ruse. W e would sit down and think which way   T o walk and pass our long love's day. To you it may seem long. To me It's rather short. At half-past three   T hou by the Indian Ganges' side   S houldst rubies find; I by the tide   O f Humber would complain. I would - You would, you say? I ndeed I would
Love you ten years before the Flood    And you should, if you please, refuse - But why on earth should I refuse? Till the conversion of the Jews. Jews?  What's wrong with Jews?  Why not? You talk about the Jews a lot. Well Buddhists then, if you prefer . Oh just get to the point, good Sir. My vegetable love should grow - Vegetable? Do you mean That bedroom-wise you're somewhat green - No vast experience then? Vaster than empires and more slow - Aha! You'll make a woman wait; Your vegetable may 'vegetate'. An hundred years should go to praise   Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze; On about my eyes again.  What about my knees? It's plain You really think I haven't guessed You're just about to bring in 'breast'. Two hundred to adore each breast -   But thirty thousand to the rest... Men are obsessed with cars and numbers. Who, me?
Yes, you. You mentioned Humbers.   Lady - you are indeed most sage -   The most discerning of your age -    An age at least to every part,   And the last age should show your heart. Heart? You think you're getting that? I'd call the chance of that - well - fat. For Lady, you deserve this state - What - fat? No, Madam - more like Fate.   Nor would I love at lower rate.     But at my back I always hear   Time's wingèd chariot hurrying near -  That reminds me. I should get A taxi ordered.  Oh, not yet!   Yonder all before us lie   Deserts of vast eternity. I'm thirsty just to think of it. But Sir - you overstate a bit. What about another drink?   No, no! Tis sad to think   Thy beauty shall no more be found,   Nor, in thy marble vault -
The sound Of marble isn't really bound To woo. Let's go for 'alabaster' (Which incidentally rhymes with 'faster') Come on! What use is being profound Unless you  kiss me?  'Kiss'  shall sound   My echoing song; then worms shall try   That long preserved virginity - Virginity?  Oh please. How arid! I only said I wasn't married. And as for being tried by worms - Well - nothing doing on those terms.   And your quaint  'Quaint?' I really must Take exception. Quaint is just - - just too much.    - honour turn to dust,   And into ashes all my lust - Ashes? Do you plan erupting? Yes, if you keep interrupting.   The grave's a fine and private place -   But none, I think, do there embrace My point exactly. Let us trace Unerring logic. My informer Says you'd like somewhere much warmer.
Now, therefore, while the youthful hue   Sits on thy skin like morning dew - Like dew?  What's wrong with dew?   Well, dew Sounds like a filthy dose of flu. I'm not so sure I'd like the hue Of me imbued with 'morning dew'. And while thy willing soul transpires   At every pore with instant fires - Wait, wait!  What now?   Well, dew and  fire Do not mix well.    Now let us sport us  -  "Let us sport us"?  You have the passion of a tortoise!   Now let us sport us while we may -   And now -  You said 'now' twice. Make hay While sun permits. But in what way?   I thought   - like amorous birds of prey. Look here - no fetishes or freaks - Kisses, not pecks. Hugs, not beaks. Certain things I won't allow. And be consistent - 'you' or 'thou?
Rather at once our time devour   Than languish in his slow-chapt power . Slow-chapt? Yes. I thought it apt   To think of time as slow. But 'chapt'? Let us roll – A joint? Agreed.  I need the solace of the weed. No, let's   roll all our strength and all   Our sweetness up into one ball - It's funny that you're drinking  Becks . It rhymes, you know, with sex. Sex? Sex. Dear Lady, do not coolly utter   Parlance fitter for the gutter.   Wot we are the better for     A subtly-managed metaphor.   Let's  tear our pleasures with rough strife   Thorough the iron gates of life:   Thus, though we cannot make our sun - Whose son?  The  sun , my love. Not son. Does that mean that you haven't one? Not what I heard. In fact, I thought You'd two or three. I think I ought To call that taxi. Talk's sublime But still - it's nearly pumpkin time. A good-night kiss?
Stand still.  Stand still? You mean - well yes - of course I will. I've fancied you for ages, pet. I bet you noticed.  No, not   yet. I thought you had. For goodness sake Get on.  Ahem. Right -   We will   make   Our conversation last and last   Until this glorious night is past And –  No, good Sir. There's little joy In speechifying from the coy. Look here - I have a certain friend. He's not that confident. Pretend That you were me. What would you do If all he did was  talk  to you While  you  (that's me), were burning just To get a spot of naked lust? He's wilted somewhere near the stalk. He talks the talk, won't walk the walk. He's frankly - a pedestrian  While you -  Well can't you  make him run?

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To His Coy Mistress - Andrew Marvell

  • 1. “ To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
  • 2. A METAPHYSICAL POET Early 1600’s Concerned with what makes us human and what sets us aside from other animals Usually focus on “love” and “relationship with God” Poems structured as arguments Wit, irony, wordplay, often comic with serious topic underneath
  • 3. THE CONCEIT An extended metaphor with a complex logic that governs an entire poem or poetic passage
  • 4. EXAMPLE OF CONCEIT John Donne's "The Flea“, in which a flea that bites both the speaker and his lover becomes a conceit arguing that his lover has no reason to deny him sexually, although they are not married: Oh stay! three lives in one flea spare Where we almost, yea more than married are.    This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage-bed and marriage-temple is.
  • 5. “ To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
  • 6. 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 Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of 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; An 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.
  • 7. But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserv'd 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.
  • 8. 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 am'rous birds of prey, Rather at once our time devour, Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power. Let us roll all our strength, and all Our sweetness, up into one ball; And tear our pleasures with rough strife Thorough the iron gates of life. Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.
  • 9. To His Coy Mistress is one of many “seduction poems”. The message is simple: the coyness of his mistress appeals to him, but life is too short to play games, so it's time to get serious.
  • 10. To His Coy Mistress – The Argument [A] 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 Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of 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; An 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.       [B] But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserv'd 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. [C]         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 am'rous birds of prey, Rather at once our time devour, Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power. Let us roll all our strength, and all Our sweetness, up into one ball; And tear our pleasures with rough strife Thorough the iron gates of life. Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run. THESIS: The ideal state (”Had we…”) ANTITHESIS: The real situation (”But at…”) SYNTHESIS: What has to be done as necessary conclusion (”Now therefore…”)
  • 11. Three Themes " Tempus fugit “ = time flies " Momento Mori " -this is a reminder of death.  In movies, the skull you sometimes see on the desk of a medieval monk is a momento mori reminding him of his own mortality. " Carpe diem “ = seize the day.
  • 12. Had we but world enough, and time, 1 This coyness, lady, were no crime. Shyness, reserve, unwillingness – fashionable for women to behave in this way at the time – at least initially How does this pronoun help to persuade? United in their battle against time time, Theme is immediately introduced – brevity of human life and pursuits vs time – Carpe Diem: seize the day Argument begins by posing problem What is the problem/thesis/statement? What is he trying to achieve? An attempt to escape the ravages of time to an idyllic life where they may pass each “long love’s day” together. Lyric poem Octosyllabic lines (8 syllables per line) Regular “sing-song” rhythm and rhyme creates a “comic” feel which contrasts strongly with the underlying theme of life and death
  • 13. We would sit down and think which way To walk, and pass our long love's day; Thou by the Indian Ganges' side 5 Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide Of Humber would complain. c.1650 – time of exploration and discovery - EFFECT OF COMPARISON? Her: by the side of the River Ganges in India with rubies Him: by the side of the River Humber in Hull FLATTERY!
  • 14. I would Love you ten years before the Flood; And you should, if you please, refuse Till the conversion of the Jews. 10 My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow. Biblical Flood / Noah’s Ark Over 4000 years ago In Christian texts – just before the end of the world How long? HYPERBOLE? Why does he compare his love to a slow growing vegetable? Why does he use the phrase ‘vaster than empires”? How do we know he will not fall out of love with her quickly?
  • 15. An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast, 15 But thirty thousand to the rest; An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze; Two hundred to adore each breast, 15 But thirty thousand to the rest; An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. How is time used to praise and flatter her?
  • 16. For, lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate. 20 He called her “Mistress” before. Why does he now call her “lady”? How does this tally with what follows in the poem?
  • 17. But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. START OF ANTITHESIS: we’ve been given the opening statement (thesis), now he discusses the reason why he can’t do as he’d like – the “But” What reason does he give for not being able to do what he would like?
  • 18. HELIOS (or Helius) was the Titan god of the sun. He was also the guardian of oaths and the god of gift of sight. Helios dwelt in a golden palace located in the River Okeanos at the eastern ends of the earth. From there he emerged each dawn driving a chariot drawn by four, fiery winged steeds and crowned with the aureole of the sun. When he reached the land of the Hesperides (Evenings) in the West he descended into a golden cup which carried him around the northern streams of Okeanos back to his rising place in the East. ( www.theoi.com/Titan/Helios.html )
  • 20. But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. START OF ANTITHESIS: we’ve been given the opening statement (thesis), now he discusses the reason why he can’t do as he’d like – the “But” Time = negative, lifeless eternity Rejection of afterlife which will bring relief Reflects rising religious scepticism of the time Desert image: barren, no sex = no children - dull relationship
  • 21. Thy beauty shall no more be found, 25 Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserv'd virginity, And your quaint honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust. 30 The grave's a fine and private place, But none I think do there embrace. Elegant but artificial – all very nice and honourable but worthless to him
  • 22. Now therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew, And while thy willing soul transpires 35 At every pore with instant fires, SYNTHESIS – THE SOLUTION The threats disappear – approaches her more positively
  • 23. 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-chapp'd power. 40 More passionate images and words Hoping to gain eternity through sexual union – they should devour time rather than time devouring them Slow devouring jaws of time
  • 24. 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. Plural pronoun – union, togetherness Break down the “iron gates” of time
  • 25. Thus, though we cannot make our sun 45 Stand still, yet we will make him run. Returns to the image of sun and time. What is his final point? On the surface, this poem is about the attempted seduction of a woman…what is the message underneath about how we should live our lives? PUN?
  • 27. Marvell’s speaker, who apparently has been searching for the meaning of existence, has determined that life is transitory , that there is no afterlife , and that the only option left is for him in his life is to fully indulge in carnal pleasure.
  • 28. Lines 1-20 Marvell uses a logical form called a conditional statement. (If . . . then.) If time did not fly, then we could take all the time we need before we actually consummate the relationship. They could take all the time from 10 years before Noah's flood until the conversion of the Jews to Christianity at the end of time. He would spend immense amounts of time on his praising of her. 100 years praising her eyes, 200 praising her breasts, etc. But they can't. Why? We see in the next section
  • 29. Lines 21-32 Tempus fugit: Time is flying & we must act now. Momento mori: Her beauty will fade, & if she maintains her virginity until the grave, she'll just lose it to the worms. "I think" no one embraces in the grave. This is a poetic device called understatement. Of course no one embraces in the grave. There her honor will turn to dust & his lust into ashes.
  • 30. Lines 33-46 Therefore, carpe diem: He shows the violence of love and life. "Amorous birds of prey." They should attack each other like mating falcons. We should embrace our mortality (and each other) with a gleam in our eyes. "At once our time devour." "Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run." In other words, "Live hard, die young."
  • 33.  
  • 34.  
  • 35.  
  • 36.  
  • 37. Overheard in the 'Coy Mistress‘ I think I need another gin - Your chat-up lines are wearing thin. In fact, you seem less hot than - coy. I start to feel you're just a boy. H ad we but world enough, and time, T his coyness, Lady, were no crime. Good Sir, I think you may confuse A grim offence with simple ruse. W e would sit down and think which way T o walk and pass our long love's day. To you it may seem long. To me It's rather short. At half-past three T hou by the Indian Ganges' side S houldst rubies find; I by the tide O f Humber would complain. I would - You would, you say? I ndeed I would
  • 38. Love you ten years before the Flood And you should, if you please, refuse - But why on earth should I refuse? Till the conversion of the Jews. Jews? What's wrong with Jews? Why not? You talk about the Jews a lot. Well Buddhists then, if you prefer . Oh just get to the point, good Sir. My vegetable love should grow - Vegetable? Do you mean That bedroom-wise you're somewhat green - No vast experience then? Vaster than empires and more slow - Aha! You'll make a woman wait; Your vegetable may 'vegetate'. An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze; On about my eyes again. What about my knees? It's plain You really think I haven't guessed You're just about to bring in 'breast'. Two hundred to adore each breast - But thirty thousand to the rest... Men are obsessed with cars and numbers. Who, me?
  • 39. Yes, you. You mentioned Humbers. Lady - you are indeed most sage - The most discerning of your age - An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. Heart? You think you're getting that? I'd call the chance of that - well - fat. For Lady, you deserve this state - What - fat? No, Madam - more like Fate. Nor would I love at lower rate. But at my back I always hear Time's wingèd chariot hurrying near - That reminds me. I should get A taxi ordered. Oh, not yet! Yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. I'm thirsty just to think of it. But Sir - you overstate a bit. What about another drink? No, no! Tis sad to think Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault -
  • 40. The sound Of marble isn't really bound To woo. Let's go for 'alabaster' (Which incidentally rhymes with 'faster') Come on! What use is being profound Unless you kiss me? 'Kiss' shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long preserved virginity - Virginity? Oh please. How arid! I only said I wasn't married. And as for being tried by worms - Well - nothing doing on those terms. And your quaint 'Quaint?' I really must Take exception. Quaint is just - - just too much. - honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust - Ashes? Do you plan erupting? Yes, if you keep interrupting. The grave's a fine and private place - But none, I think, do there embrace My point exactly. Let us trace Unerring logic. My informer Says you'd like somewhere much warmer.
  • 41. Now, therefore, while the youthful hue Sits on thy skin like morning dew - Like dew? What's wrong with dew? Well, dew Sounds like a filthy dose of flu. I'm not so sure I'd like the hue Of me imbued with 'morning dew'. And while thy willing soul transpires At every pore with instant fires - Wait, wait! What now? Well, dew and fire Do not mix well. Now let us sport us - "Let us sport us"? You have the passion of a tortoise! Now let us sport us while we may - And now - You said 'now' twice. Make hay While sun permits. But in what way? I thought - like amorous birds of prey. Look here - no fetishes or freaks - Kisses, not pecks. Hugs, not beaks. Certain things I won't allow. And be consistent - 'you' or 'thou?
  • 42. Rather at once our time devour Than languish in his slow-chapt power . Slow-chapt? Yes. I thought it apt To think of time as slow. But 'chapt'? Let us roll – A joint? Agreed. I need the solace of the weed. No, let's roll all our strength and all Our sweetness up into one ball - It's funny that you're drinking Becks . It rhymes, you know, with sex. Sex? Sex. Dear Lady, do not coolly utter Parlance fitter for the gutter. Wot we are the better for A subtly-managed metaphor. Let's tear our pleasures with rough strife Thorough the iron gates of life: Thus, though we cannot make our sun - Whose son? The sun , my love. Not son. Does that mean that you haven't one? Not what I heard. In fact, I thought You'd two or three. I think I ought To call that taxi. Talk's sublime But still - it's nearly pumpkin time. A good-night kiss?
  • 43. Stand still. Stand still? You mean - well yes - of course I will. I've fancied you for ages, pet. I bet you noticed. No, not yet. I thought you had. For goodness sake Get on. Ahem. Right - We will make Our conversation last and last Until this glorious night is past And – No, good Sir. There's little joy In speechifying from the coy. Look here - I have a certain friend. He's not that confident. Pretend That you were me. What would you do If all he did was talk to you While you (that's me), were burning just To get a spot of naked lust? He's wilted somewhere near the stalk. He talks the talk, won't walk the walk. He's frankly - a pedestrian While you - Well can't you make him run?