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'TO ANTHEA' by Robert Herrick


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AH, my Anthea ! Must my heart still break ?
(Love makes me write, what shame forbids to speak)
Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score ;
Then to that twenty add a hundred more :
A thousand to that hundred : so kiss on,
To make that thousand up a million.
Treble that million, and when that is done
Let's kiss afresh, as when we first begun.
But yet, though love likes well such scenes as these,
There is an act that will more fully please :
Kissing and glancing, soothing, all make way
But to the acting of this private play :
Name it I would ; but, being blushing red,
The rest I'll speak when we meet both in bed.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"TO ANTHEA" by Robert Herrick: A Masterpiece of Love Poetry

"TO ANTHEA" is one of the most famous poems by Robert Herrick, a seventeenth-century English poet. It was published in his collection of poems, "Hesperides," in 1648. The poem has become an enduring classic of love poetry, and it is often quoted and anthologized. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in "TO ANTHEA."

Themes

The main theme of "TO ANTHEA" is love, specifically the speaker's love for his beloved, Anthia. The poem is a celebration of the beauty and power of love, and it expresses the speaker's desire to devote his life to Anthia. The poem is also a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The speaker urges Anthia to seize the moment and enjoy their love while they can, for time is fleeting and death is certain.

The poem also contains themes of nature and the seasons. The speaker uses the changing seasons as a metaphor for the changing phases of their love. The springtime represents the beginning of their love, the summer represents the height of their passion, the autumn represents the fading of their love, and the winter represents the end of their love.

Structure

The poem consists of twelve quatrains, or four-line stanzas, with a rhyming scheme of ABAB. Each quatrain contains eight syllables per line, which gives the poem a light and musical feel. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line consists of four iambs, or metrical feet, with the stress on the second syllable of each foot. The regularity of the meter and rhyme scheme contribute to the poem's musicality and make it easy to memorize and recite.

The poem is also structured around a central metaphor of the rose. The speaker compares Anthia's beauty to that of a rose, and he urges her to enjoy her youth and beauty while she can, just as the rose blooms and fades. The rose metaphor recurs throughout the poem, and it serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of beauty and love.

Literary Devices

The poem contains a variety of literary devices that contribute to its beauty and meaning. One of the most notable devices is the use of imagery. The speaker uses vivid and sensual imagery to describe Anthia's beauty and the pleasures of love. He uses images of flowers, fruits, and birds to create a lush and sensual atmosphere. For example, in the third quatrain, he writes:

The curious wits, seeing dull pensiveness Betroth'd to loss of common sense, Profane the sacred name of love: It is idolatry, they prove, And all who do it, do deserve The flames of hell; do there but serve For fuel: martyrs may be made By their own persecuting trade.

Here, the speaker uses the image of flames to describe the passion of love and the dangers of idolizing it. He also uses the metaphor of martyrdom to suggest that love requires sacrifice and devotion.

Another literary device used in the poem is alliteration. The speaker uses repeated sounds to create a musical and rhythmic effect. For example, in the seventh quatrain, he writes:

The primrose, ere her time, doth take The glory of the spring, And doth compose A sweet repose, And in her bosom takes.

Here, the repeated "p" sound creates a soft and gentle effect that reflects the peacefulness of the primrose.

The poem also contains metaphors and similes, which are used to compare Anthia's beauty and the pleasures of love to other objects and experiences. For example, in the fourth quatrain, the speaker writes:

Bid Amaranthus all his beauty shed, And daffadillies fill their cups with tears, To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies.

Here, the speaker uses the metaphor of a laureate hearse to suggest that Anthia's beauty is so great that even the flowers and nature itself would mourn her passing.

Interpretation

"TO ANTHEA" is a beautiful and lyrical poem that explores the themes of love, beauty, and mortality. The speaker's passion for Anthia is expressed in sensual and vivid language, and the poem serves as a celebration of the power of love to transcend time and death.

At the same time, the poem is also a meditation on the transience of beauty and the inevitability of death. The speaker urges Anthia to enjoy her youth and beauty while she can, for they will not last forever. He compares her beauty to that of a rose, and he uses the changing seasons as a metaphor for the phases of their love.

Overall, "TO ANTHEA" is a masterpiece of love poetry that combines beauty, passion, and mortality in a way that is both sensual and profound. It is a testament to the enduring power of love and the beauty of life in all its fleeting glory.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

To Anthea, by Robert Herrick, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that speaks to the heart of love and devotion. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the meaning and significance of this poem.

The poem is addressed to Anthea, who is believed to be a fictional character created by Herrick. The poem is a declaration of love and devotion to Anthea, and it is written in a lyrical and romantic style. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines, and it follows a rhyme scheme of ABAB.

The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It begins with the line, "Bid me to live, and I will live thy Protestant to be." This line is a declaration of the speaker's willingness to do anything for Anthea, even if it means changing his religion. The speaker is willing to do whatever it takes to be with Anthea, and this line sets the stage for the rest of the poem.

The second line of the first stanza reads, "Or bid me love, and I will give a loving heart to thee." This line is a declaration of the speaker's love for Anthea. He is willing to give her his heart and love her with all his being. This line is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The second stanza of the poem is equally beautiful and romantic. It begins with the line, "A heart as soft, a heart as kind, a heart as sound and free." This line is a declaration of the speaker's heart. He is telling Anthea that his heart is soft, kind, and free. He is willing to give her his heart and love her with all his being.

The third line of the second stanza reads, "As in the whole world thou canst find, that heart I'll give to thee." This line is a declaration of the speaker's love and devotion to Anthea. He is telling her that he will give her his heart, which is the best heart in the world. This line is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The third stanza of the poem is a beautiful conclusion to the poem. It begins with the line, "Bid that heart stay, and it will stay, to honour thy decree." This line is a declaration of the speaker's willingness to stay with Anthea. He is telling her that he will stay with her and honour her decree. This line is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The second line of the third stanza reads, "Or bid it languish quite away, and 't shall do so for thee." This line is a declaration of the speaker's willingness to do anything for Anthea. He is telling her that he will let his heart languish away if that is what she wants. This line is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The third line of the third stanza reads, "Bid me to weep, and I will weep, while I have eyes to see." This line is a declaration of the speaker's willingness to weep for Anthea. He is telling her that he will weep for her as long as he has eyes to see. This line is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The final line of the poem reads, "And having none, yet I will keep thy tears for my decree." This line is a declaration of the speaker's love and devotion to Anthea. He is telling her that he will keep her tears, even if he has none of his own. This line is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

In conclusion, To Anthea, by Robert Herrick, is a beautiful poem that speaks to the heart of love and devotion. It is a declaration of love and devotion to Anthea, and it is written in a lyrical and romantic style. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines, and it follows a rhyme scheme of ABAB. The poem is a beautiful expression of love and devotion, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

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