Virtue By George Herbert

 

Virtue

By George Herbert

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,

The bridal of the earth and sky;

The dew shall weep thy fall to-night,

For thou must die.

Sweet rose, whose hue (kind) angry and brave

Bid (offer) the rash (sudden – careless) gazer wipe his eye;

Thy root is ever in its grave,

And thou must die.

 

Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,

A box where sweets compacted lie;

My music shows ye have your closes,

And all must die.

 

Only a sweet and virtuous soul,

Like season'd timber (wood), never gives;

But though the whole world turn to coal,

Then chiefly lives.

 

George Herbert: 1593 – 1633

 

George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633) was a Welsh-born poet, orator and Anglican priest. Herbert's poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognized as "one of the foremost British devotional lyricists.” He was born into an artistic and wealthy family. He wanted to become a priest but he became the university’s Public Orator. He also served in the Parliament of England in 1624 and 1625.

 

Introduction of poem:

 

"Virtue" is one of the poems in a collection of verse called The Temple (1633), which George Herbert wrote during the last three years of his life. The poet appreciates the beauty of creation not only for his own sake but also because he sees it as a mirror of the goodness of the creator. He presents a vision of an eternal world. Poem represents the temporariness of the physical world. Poet has used many examples to express the death and life before death.

 

Analysis

 

George Herbert in this poem tried to project the basic difference between mortal and immortal through concrete example in every stanza, as it is said,

"Men without virtue are like lifeless flower"

   

   This is what makes the poet write on such a topics. Poet has expressed that death is inevitable but before death what we do is much more important and how we live our life that should be in concern. Poet has given many examples in his poem with the reference of the natural elements and how they are living their life in giving rather than having any personal benefits.

                                      

In the first stanza, poet talks about a beautiful day wherein everything between earth and sky seems to be picture perfect, but it has to come an end. The beauty of the day is precious and eye catchy but the day has to end. It does not matter how peaceful the day is but it has to end. The day gives beauty and life to all the creature living on earth, it never expects anything from anyone or any creature. Day is peaceful and gives delight but though it is destined to end.

 

The dew shall weep thy fall to-night,

For thou must die.

 

No matter what the circumstances are, as anything that is natural has to come to an end one day. There is end of everything whether it is beautiful or not, and poet has presented the beauty of the day and then talked about the night and dew. The dew drops are presented here as tears, because the beautiful day is going to end at night.

 

In the second stanza, the comparison is with rose, which is very beautiful when in full bloom, but its end is permanent. This example remains that the beauty is always to remember, but it is not concrete. Rose can live for one or two days only, rose is the symbol of beauty and love but that one also dies because of its mortality.

 

Thy root is ever in its grave,

And thou must die.

 

We can feel it; we can love it, but that all is in our sense. Rose is the perfect example for that, and at the end, the death of the rose only remains permanent. It seems rose is asking its onlooker to wipe tears from its eyes, it is crying because it will fade away and die.

 

In the third stanza, there is a description of spring season, which seems to be having a never ending affair with nature, but in winter everything apart and only the memory of spring season would be sketch on your mind forever. Spring which can be considered as the life giving source to all the plants, lakes, and creatures, it also provides food, but though it has to end one day. The one which gives life has having a death too.

 

Above three stanzas have a common ending with the concept of death but one should not forget that death is a death of "body" and not "feelings", and this point is given importance in the last stanza. The poet here talks about the immortality of virtuous soul, and in life what matters is what you feel and not what you see. Poet has given example of seasoned timber and said that it cannot be burnt and changed into coal and therefore it can never surrender to destruction. By ‘chiefly lives’ poet suggests that the soul will remain alive when the world will end.

 

Life is always about living, body is mortal but memory and goodness is not. If the day, rose and spring season will end, one would always keep the memory of that beautiful sight and feelings. The same way one can die, but he or she is a virtuous soul then it will be in memory forever.

 

Figures of speech:

 

In the poem there is a use of Simile by the word 'as' and 'like'.

 

‘Like season'd timber (wood), never gives;’

 

‘Nightfall’ is represented here as a metaphor of death.

 

There is also personification by using,

 

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,

The bridal of the earth and sky;

Rhyming scheme:

 

The poet has also used alliteration, imagery, and metaphors. The poet has used regular rhyming scheme. The first line rhymes with third and second line rhymes with fourth. The rhyming scheme is a, b, a, b.

 

Conclusion:

 

The whole poem talks about death but at the end poet gives a way by which immorality can be achieved, and one can be eternal. Herbert has given a way in which he believes and has used natural relevant elements by which readers can get a proper way to live their life. He also represented the value of virtue.

Sources: Wikipedia, poetry foundation and Google images

“Fear no more the heat o’ the sun” BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

 

Song: “Fear no more the heat o’ the sun”

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(from Cymbeline)

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,

Nor the furious winter’s rages;

Thou thy worldly task hast done,

Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:

Golden lads and girls all must,

As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

 

Fear no more the frown o’ the great;

Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;

Care no more to clothe and eat;

To thee the reed is as the oak:

The scepter, learning, physic, must

All follow this, and come to dust.

 

Fear no more the lightning flash,

Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;

Fear not slander, censure rash;

Thou hast finished joy and moan:

All lovers young, all lovers must

Consign to thee, and come to dust.

 

No exorciser harm thee!

Nor no witchcraft charm thee!

Ghost unlaid forbear thee!

Nothing ill come near thee!

Quiet consummation have;

And renownèd be thy grave!

 

William Shakespeare: 1564 - 1616

William Shakespeare is one of the greatest English playwright, poem and a prominent literary figure. He has written comedies, tragedies and sonnets and contributed much in the literature of English language. He is known for his ability of portraying characters which can touch the soul of readers.

Introduction of Poem:

This poem has been taken from Shakespeare's play Cymbeline. This is a death poem having universal appeal. In this poem the poet has expressed his feeling for the rest of the soul of the dead. It is written for the consolation of the dead. The poet wants to say that a dead person becomes free from all kinds of worldly anxieties. It is full of moral lessons.

Analysis:

The very first stanza expresses a feeling that a dead person cannot feel the heat of the sun. a living person has to face the scorching sun and bitter coldness of the winter season. But after death, he gets rid of them. After death a person goes to heaven, which is his permanent home. As a laborer works and goes home after taking wages, so a dead person goes home with his success and failures. The poet further advices a dead person not to be disappointed from death because death is the fate of every person. It lays its icy hands over all whether he is a handsome fellow, a beautiful girl or a chimney sweeper. All must die one day.

In the second stanza poet explains the concept of death by saying that, a dead person immune from the anger of his master. In his lifetime, he is in financial trouble. He has no sufficient money for buying necessary cloth and proper fund. Consequently, he has no proper cloth to cover his body and proper food to satisfy his hunger. But after death, he does not feel any necessity of these things. Death is very impartial. It does not distinguish between the poor and rich, kings, learned man, physician, and doctors must die one day.

The scepter, learning, physic, must

All follow this, and come to dust. 

In the third stanza poet says, a dead person does not fear the lightening flash nor thunder-storm. He is free from public criticism. Joy and sorrow are the same from him. In his lifetime sometime he is happy and sometimes sad. But after death, he does not feel anything. At last the poet says that death should not be the cause of sorrow because all persons, whether they are young lover or old one, must die and meet the dust.

In the last stanza poet has given a list of the things by which a person should not have a fear. Exerciser, ghost, witchcraft and evil people cannot force the negative or harmful sense to the dead person. There is a repetition of the word ‘thee’.

When death comes to us we won’t fear anything. He’s telling us that we won’t fear the heat of the sun, the winters rage, the frown of the great which are the people of a higher position than us in life, the lighting flash, the thunder stone, and the slander censure rash. Nothing is going to harm us when we are dead. You will be quietly consumed and renowned by the grave. I think the author wrote this poem about death because someone that he loved and was close to passed away, or maybe he was just thinking about death and what happens after that.

Figures of speech:

The poem is free of clichés, and the tone of the poem is serious, fearless, and careless. The tone doesn’t change throughout the poem. Shakespeare used many figurative language in the poem.

In the first stanza, second line

“nor the furious winter’s rage”

 is an example of metaphor.

“Gold lads and girls all must, as chimney sweepers come to dust”

 is an example of simile in the first stanza.

In the second stanza, last line

“The sceptre, learning, physic, must all follow this, and come to dust”,

is an example of personification.

The word fear repeats at the beginning of the first three stanzas in the poem, and so does the word thee. They are an example of repetition. There is no absence of punctuation, and it is a closed poem.

Rhyming scheme:

There are four stanzas with six lines. The rhyming scheme of the poem is a, b, a, b, c, c.

Conclusion:

The author is the speaker of this poem and he is generally talking to everyone. This poem is about death and it is saying that everyone is going to be turned into dust. The author is trying to say that we are all going to die, and that is there no need to stress or worry about life. No one needs to be anxious about tomorrow, about the way they are getting their food or clothe, or being scared of the people in a higher position. No matter who you are and no matter how old you are, or what position you hold death will always be waiting for you and you’ll be turned into dust. Your family and friends won’t come down there with you, nor will your knowledge.

Source: Wikipedia, Poetry Foundation and google images

Since There’s no Help, Come Let Us Kiss and Part By Michael Drayton

 

Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part

By Michael Drayton

Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part.

Nay, I have done, you get no more of me;

And I am glad, yea glad with all my heart,

That thus so cleanly I myself can free.

Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,

And when we meet at any time again,

Be it not seen in either of our brows

That we one jot of former love retain.

Now at the last gasp of Love’s latest breath,

When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies;

When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death,

And Innocence is closing up his eyes—

Now, if thou wouldst, when all have given him over,

From death to life thou might’st him yet recover!

 

Michael Drayton – 1563 - 1631

Michael Drayton was born in 1563 and was contemporary of Shakespeare. Almost nothing is known about his early life, he might have studied at the Oxford University. He has written great number of poems including a long verse, travelogue and England. His first book is ‘The Harmony of Church’ filled with spiritual poem. 

Introduction of the poem:

The sonnet ‘Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part’ (1594) was the best known poem by Drayton. In the Elizabethan sonnet from it first appeared as number 61 in Drayton’s 64-sonnet sequence titles ‘Ideas Mirror’. Drayton’s poetry is not read much now. That is with the notable exception of this one sonnet, beginning ‘Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part’, which is well-known. Poem contains heavy figurative language (figures of speech).

Analysis:

The first line of the poem clarifying the situation as the poet is in a relationship that no longer proves satisfying, and he wishes that both lovers might separate with a minimum of pain. As the poem starts with the line,

‘Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part’

Which clearly represents that poet has lost his all hopes to live with his lady and the time has come to get separated. This is the first argument in the sonnet where the poet is taking a hard decision of his life, where he has to leave his beloved. The separation is painful but it can be healed by the kiss which they will have before parting, as it has ended on mutual decision and on a happy note.

In next line poet confesses that he is done now, and he is glad with this separation. He is also telling the beloved that she will not get more of him, and he will not try to meet his beloved. Poet says that he is happy with all his hear and he repeated this again,

‘And I am glad, yea glad with all my heart,’

    In the next line poet made a statement that he will be free after the relationship ends. He is glad that he will be cleanly free from every promise and bondage of love and relationship. Before leaving, poet approaches to his girl to shake hands, as per poet by shaking hands they should cancel all the vows they have taken when they were together. ‘Shake hands’ seems too practical and by shaking hands poet wants to make an agreement that they will cancel their future plans and love promises.

   Poet by shaking hands cancel all the vows and further told his beloved to not express love if they meet in future. Poet clearly says that it may happen that they meet somewhere coincidently, and at that time beloved have to behave as there was not any love relationship between the poet and her. As he says,

                                       ‘Be it not seen in either of our brows’ 

   Poet explains that if would have any expression on her face after noticing the poet, people would come to know about their past love relation, and their former love relationship will get revealed.

    By saying,

‘Now at the last gasp of Love’s latest breath,’

    Poet makes clear that the relationship of their love is not at the edge, and getting more and more near to death. Poet expresses the situation by saying that the pulse is fainting, passion is out of control, faith has lost its value and there is innocence.

    In the last couplet poem takes turn as all sonnets do, poet says that these things can change and they can be together again if the lover wished. The mood of poet got changed from imperative (‘Shake hands’, ‘Cancel’, ‘be it not’) to the subjunctive (‘thou wouldst’, ‘thou might’st’) Poet put a hope that if the beloves wishes then she can recover this love relationship from the death bed. Only she has the power over life and death, and poet hopes that she will exercise it.

     Figures of speech:

The format of sonnet is of Elizabethan format, the sonnet’s first 12 lines, in iambic pentameter, and elaborate upon the problem or topic, while the final couplet acts as a summary or final epigram.

Drayton has used personification by the dying scene of passion and faith,

When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies;

When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death,

 Poet also used personification by giving eyes to innocence. Allegorically, this is the image of dying love between two lovers.

The use of dash (-) creates a pause and suspense on the side of readers.

Rhyming scheme:

The rhyme scheme of the Sonnet is,

a, b, a, b, - First quatrain

c, d, c, d, - Second quatrain

e, f, e, f, - third quatrain

g, g. – concluding couplet

Conclusion:

The poem can be considered as the break up poem in which poet is disappointed with the love relationship he is having and tries to get rid of it without much pain and continuously tells his beloved that they should get part. He makes various statements as he will be free and happy after the separation but at the end he wants a hope from his beloved to get this relationship alive again. The poem clearly represents the confused and frustrated feeling of a lover’s mind and what beloved thinks, that is not portrayed in the poem.

                                       

Source: Wikipedia, poetry foundation and google images

My Friend, The Things That Do Attain By Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

 

My Friend, The Things That Do Attain

By Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

MY friend, the things that do attain

The happy life be these, I find:

The riches left, not got with pain;

The fruitful ground; the quiet mind;

 

The equal friend; no grudge; no strife (conflict);

No charge of rule, nor governance (power);

Without disease, the healthy life;

The household of continuance;

 

The mean diet, no dainty fare;

Wisdom joined with simpleness;

The night discharged of all care,

Where wine the wit may not oppress:

 

The faithful wife, without debate;

Such sleeps as may beguile the night;

Content thyself with thine estate,

Neither wish death, nor fear his might.

 

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey: 1517 - 1547

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517-1547) was an English nobleman, politician and a poet. He was one of the founder of English Renaissance poetry. He and his friend Sir Thomas Wyatt were the first English poets to write in the sonnet from that Shakespeare later used, and Surrey was the first English poet to publish blank verse. He also worked as an actor in TV serial.

Introduction of Poetry:

Henry Howard’s poem is actually a translation of one of the Roman poet Martial’s Epigrams. The original poem was written roughly 1500 years before Howard translated it. Howard’s translation shows that the elements of happy life are timeless and universal.

Analysis:

The poem is having a philosophical touch. Everyone needs a happy life, the poem includes elements by which we can live happy life. Poem well explained the concept of living life without any unhealthy circumstances. Poem addressed all the readers by calling them “MY friend”, as if he is giving advice to all the readers that what they should have and what they should do to attain happy life, as he said,

      

            “MY friend, the things that do attain”

The opening stanza of the poem represents some thoughts to gain a happy life by saying that one should have riches which should be obtained without trouble in life. Hard work should be there but the trouble should not. The income one is getting should not be gained by pain, but by the mind which is quite. Here quite represents calm and untroubled.

 

           “The fruitful ground; the quiet mind”

The poet is making clear that he himself has found this steps to get happy life.

In the next stanza, poet starts happy life’s concept by having equal friend. One should have a friend who is not having grudges and strife for each other. The poet starts happiness with the most beautiful relation which is friendship. He used the word ‘equal’ for friends, which is very necessary in friendship. Next poet talks about a peaceful life, which does not include quarrelling. He has referred the condition of country. The political life should be calm and not chaotic. People of the country should not having disease but should have healthy life. All the families should be well established, as poet says,

            “The household of continuance”

In the next stanza, poet talks about good enough diet which can keep man healthy. A healthy life can provide happiness to the life. Further poet admires wisdom which have simplicity rather than smartness. A wise person should have simplicity and follow simpleness. There should not be a drunkenness. If there would be rare drunkenness then that will not be able to overcome the consciousness of people. Less wine will not oppress the wit of man.

                                 Where wine the wit may not oppress

By this steps a person can live happy life.

A man should have a faithful wife who does not argue with her husband. By the list of such things a man can have happy life and sleep peacefully. The calm sleep and happy life will allow us to get fearless towards death, and a life is happy then nobody will wish for death.

Figures of speech:

Poet has used simile in the line,

“Such sleeps as may beguile the night”

Poet has used irony by the words fruitful, grudge, strife and governance.

Rhyming scheme:

The poem contains four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is a, b, a, b, c, d, c, d.

Conclusion:

Poet has explained that how people can be happy, and has given a good enough list of things on which people can focus and gain a positive attitude and peace in their life. With the help of being disciplined and being mature, we can fight with the adverse circumstances of life and deal with all.

Source: Wikipedia (poet's information) poetry foundation (Poem)