Andrew Marvell

Andrew Marvell was a poet who wrote during the metaphysical era. This time period was known for its introspective meditations on love, life, death, God, and human frailty. It was much more realistic than other eras and is known for its obscurity. Poems are often witty and filled with irony and great paradoxes. 

Poem: To His Coy Mistress
Period and Dates: (1621-1678)

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 wingèd 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-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-chapped 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.

[Poem source]

Let's start with the meaning of this poem. An anonymous speaker appeals to his lover and asserts that she doesn't have time to be so coy - they must have sex! now! He stresses that, were they to have more time, her coyness wouldn't be a problem. But since life is short and death is forever, they need to get a move on. My description sounds as if the guy is a total ass. However, though intense, he speaks sweetly and with admiration of her body and soul. To me, the meaning of this poem is that life is short. Thus, we need to do whatever we can, whenever we can and with few regrets. 

Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" is an ideal example of a metaphysical poem. The poem's big topic on sex is one often found during this era. Also, the overall theme and meaning of the poem is familiar with this time period. As I said before, the meaning is that life is short. This "live life to the fullest" mindset is one often found during Marvell's metaphysical era of writing. 

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