'Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae' by Ernest Dowson
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Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae
Last night, ah, yesternight, betwixt her lips and mine
There fell thy shadow, Cynara! thy breath was shed
Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine;
And I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, I was desolate and bowed my head:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
All night upon mine heart I felt her warm heart beat,
Night-long within mine arms in love and sleep she lay;
Surely the kisses of her bought red mouth were sweet;
But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
When I awoke and found the dawn was gray:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind,
Flung roses, roses riotously with the throng,
Dancing, to put thy pale, lost lilies out of mind;
But I was desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, all the time, because the dance was long:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
I cried for madder music and for stronger wine,
But when the feast is finished and the lamps expire,
Then falls thy shadow, Cynara! the night is thine;
And I am desolate and sick of an old passion,
Yea, hungry for the lips of my desire:
I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae" by Ernest Dowson
Ernest Dowson’s “Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae” is a beautiful and melancholic poem that explores themes of love, desire, and the transience of life. Written in 1896, the poem is often considered as one of the finest examples of the Decadent movement in late 19th century English literature.
At the heart of the poem is a speaker who is lamenting the loss of a past love. The speaker recalls a time when they were happy and in love, but now they are consumed by a sense of melancholy and regret. The poem is structured as a series of stanzas, each with a consistent rhyme scheme, which adds to the musicality of the poem and enhances its emotional impact.
Analysis
The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on their past, when they were young and carefree. The opening lines of the poem, “Last night, ah, yesternight, betwixt her lips and mine / There fell thy shadow, Cynara! thy breath was shed / Upon my soul between the kisses and the wine,” immediately set the tone for the melancholic and nostalgic mood of the poem. The use of the archaic word “yesternight” and the reference to “Cynara” (which is derived from the Latin word for artichoke) add to the sense of timelessness and the speaker’s sense of longing for a past that they can never return to.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, with the speaker acknowledging the ephemeral nature of human life. The lines “I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind, / Flung roses, roses riotously with the throng, / Dancing, to put thy pale, lost lilies out of mind,” evoke a sense of fleeting beauty and the inevitability of death. The use of the word “flung” suggests a sense of reckless abandon and the idea that the speaker was living for the moment, without considering the consequences of their actions.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most famous, with its haunting refrain of “I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion.” This line has been interpreted in a number of different ways, but it is generally seen as the speaker’s attempt to reconcile their feelings of guilt and regret with their desire to cling to the memory of their past love. The use of the phrase “in my fashion” suggests that the speaker’s loyalty to Cynara was not conventional or traditional, but rather a reflection of their own unique way of experiencing love and desire.
The final two stanzas of the poem continue to explore the theme of transience, with the speaker acknowledging that their past love is gone forever, and that they are left with nothing but memories. The lines “I cannot see what flowers are at my feet, / Nor what soft incense hangs upon the boughs,” evoke a sense of detachment from the present moment and a feeling of being lost in the past. The final lines of the poem, “I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion, / I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind,” suggest that the speaker is resigned to their fate, but that they will always carry a piece of their past with them.
Interpretation
The poem can be seen as a reflection of the Decadent movement in late 19th century English literature, which was characterized by a rejection of traditional morality and a fascination with beauty, pleasure, and the darker aspects of human experience. Dowson was one of the leading figures of the Decadent movement, and his work often explores themes of melancholy and sensuality.
At the same time, the poem can also be interpreted as a reflection of Dowson’s own personal experiences. Dowson was known for his troubled love life, and he was said to have been deeply in love with a woman named Adelaide Foltinowicz, who ultimately rejected him. The poem can be seen as a reflection of Dowson’s own feelings of loss and regret, and his attempt to come to terms with the end of his relationship with Foltinowicz.
Overall, “Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae” is a beautiful and haunting poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its exploration of themes of love, desire, and transience make it a timeless work of English literature, and Dowson’s masterful use of language and rhyme make it a joy to read and interpret.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae: A Poetic Masterpiece
Ernest Dowson's "Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of English literature that has captured the hearts of readers for over a century. The poem is a reflection of the author's personal experiences and emotions, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to convey complex feelings and ideas.
The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, with the speaker addressing an unnamed listener. The speaker is a man who is reminiscing about a past love affair with a woman named Cynara. He speaks of his desire to return to the days when he was with her, but he knows that it is impossible. The poem is a meditation on the nature of love, desire, and loss.
The title of the poem, "Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae," is a Latin phrase that translates to "I am not as I was in the kingdom of Cynara." The phrase comes from a poem by the Roman poet Horace, and it is a reference to the speaker's longing to return to a time when he was happy and in love with Cynara. The use of Latin in the title adds to the poem's sense of timelessness and universality.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different rhyme scheme. The first stanza is written in the form of a Petrarchan sonnet, with an ABBAABBA rhyme scheme. The second stanza is written in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet, with an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme. The third stanza is written in the form of a quatrain, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The use of different rhyme schemes adds to the poem's sense of variety and complexity.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker begins by saying that he is not the same person he was when he was with Cynara. He speaks of his desire to return to the days when he was happy and carefree, but he knows that it is impossible. He says that he has lost his innocence and his ability to love. The use of the Petrarchan sonnet form adds to the poem's sense of longing and nostalgia.
The second stanza of the poem is the longest and most complex. The speaker begins by describing his memories of Cynara. He speaks of her beauty and her charm, and he says that he was captivated by her from the moment he met her. He speaks of their love affair, and he says that it was passionate and intense. He says that he was willing to do anything for her, but he knows that it was not enough. He says that he was consumed by his desire for her, and he knows that it was a mistake. The use of the Shakespearean sonnet form adds to the poem's sense of drama and intensity.
The third stanza of the poem is the shortest and most poignant. The speaker concludes by saying that he knows that he can never return to the days when he was with Cynara. He says that he is haunted by his memories of her, and he knows that he will never be able to forget her. He says that he is resigned to his fate, and he knows that he will never be happy again. The use of the quatrain form adds to the poem's sense of finality and closure.
The poem is a powerful meditation on the nature of love, desire, and loss. The speaker's longing to return to a past love affair is a universal theme that has resonated with readers for over a century. The use of different rhyme schemes adds to the poem's sense of variety and complexity, and the use of Latin in the title adds to the poem's sense of timelessness and universality. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to convey complex emotions and ideas, and it is a masterpiece of English literature that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
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