analysis of a poem

XXVII

Because I oft in darke abstracted guise

Seeme most alone in greatest company,

With dearth of words, or answers quite awrie,

To them that would make speech of speech arise;

They deeme, and of their doome the rumour flies,

That poison foul of bubbling pride doth lie

So in my swelling breast, that only I

Fawne on my selfe, and others do despise.

Yet pride I thinke doth not my soule possesse

(Which looks too oft in his unflatt'ring glasse):

But one worse fault, ambition, I confesse,

That makes me oft my best friends overpasse,

Unseene, unheard, while thought to highest place

Bends all his powers, even unto Stella’s grace.

XXXIX

Come Sleep! O Sleep, the certain knot of peace,

The baiting place of wit, the balm of woe,

The poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release,

The indifferent judge between the high and low;

With shield of proof, shield me from out the prease

Of those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw;

O make in me those civil wars to cease;

I will good tribute pay, if thou do so.

Take thou of me smooth pillows, sweetest bed,

A chamber deaf to noise and blind to light,

A rosy garland and a weary head:

And if these things, as being thine by right,

Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me,

Livelier than elsewhere, Stella's image see.

LXXI

Who will in fairest booke of Nature know

How vertue may best lodg'd in Beautie be,

Let him but learne of Love to reade in thee,

Stella, those faire lines which true goodnesse show.

There shall he find all vices overthrow,

Not by rude force, but sweetest soveraigntie

Of reason, from whose light those night-birds flie,

That inward sunne in thine eyes shineth so.

And, not content to be Perfections heire

Thy selfe, doest strive all minds that way to moue,

Who marke in thee what is in thee most faire:

So while thy beautie drawes the heart to love,

As fast thy vertue bends that love to good:

But, ah, Desire still cries, Give me some food.

14.

Am I thus conquer'd? have I lost the powers,

That to withstand, which joyes to ruine me?

Must I bee still, while it my strength devoures,

And captive leads me prisoner bound, unfree?

Love first shall [leave] mens phant'sies to them free,

Desire shall quench loves flames, Spring, hate sweet showres;

Love shall loose all his Darts, have sight, and see

His shame and wishings, hinder happy houres.

Why should we not loves purblinde charmes resist?

Must we be servile, doing what he list?

No, seeke some hoste too harbour thee: I flye

Thy babish tricks, and freedome doe professe;

But O my hurt makes my lost heart confesse:

I loue, and must; so farewell liberty.

21.

When last I saw thee, I did not thee see,

It was thine Image which in my thoughts lay

So lively figur'd, as no times delay

Could suffer me in heart to parted be.

And sleepe so favourable is to me,

As not to let thy lov'd remembrance stray:

Lest that I waking might haue cause to say,

there was one minute found to forgett thee.

Then, since my faith is such, so kinde my sleepe,

That gladly thee presents into my thought,

And still true Lover-like thy face doth keepe,

So as some pleasure shadow-like is wrought.

Pitty my loving, nay of consience give

Reward to me in whom thy self doth live.

24.

Once did I heare an aged father say

Unto his sonne, who with attention heares

What Age and wise experience ever cleares

From doubts of feare, or reason to betray.

My Sonn (said hee) behold thy father gray,

I once had as thou hast, fresh tender yeares,

And like thee sported destitute of feares;

But my young faults made me too soone decay.

Love once I did, and like thee, fear'd my Love,

Led by the hatefull [thread] of Jelousie,

Striving to keepe, I lost my liberty,

And gain'd my griefe, which still my sorrowes move.

In time shun this, to love is no offence,

But doubt in Youth, in Age, breeds penitence.