'TO MUSIC, TO BECALM HIS FEVER' by Robert Herrick
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Charm me asleep, and melt me so
With thy delicious numbers;
That being ravish'd, hence I go
Away in easy slumbers.
Ease my sick head,
And make my bed,
Thou Power that canst sever
From me this ill;--
And quickly still,
Though thou not kill
My fever.
Thou sweetly canst convert the same
From a consuming fire,
Into a gentle-licking flame,
And make it thus expire.
Then make me weep
My pains asleep,
And give me such reposes,
That I, poor I,
May think, thereby,
I live and die
'Mongst roses.
Fall on me like a silent dew,
Or like those maiden showers,
Which, by the peep of day, do strew
A baptism o'er the flowers.
Melt, melt my pains
With thy soft strains;
That having ease me given,
With full delight,
I leave this light,
And take my flight
For Heaven.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To Music, To Calm His Fever: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Robert Herrick’s poem “To Music, To Calm His Fever” is a classic example of the power of music to soothe the soul. In this poem, Herrick uses vivid imagery, metaphors, and personification to express the healing qualities of music in the midst of physical and emotional turmoil.
Background
Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English poet and cleric, best known for his works that celebrate the beauty of nature, love, and sensual pleasures. “To Music, To Calm His Fever” was published in his book of poems, Hesperides, in 1648.
The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, a rhythmic pattern that consists of four iambs per line. An iamb is a metrical foot that consists of two syllables, with the first syllable unstressed and the second syllable stressed. The regularity of the meter creates a musical effect that reinforces the theme of the poem.
Summary
“To Music, To Calm His Fever” is a plea to music to heal the speaker’s feverish body and troubled mind. The first stanza establishes the speaker’s physical and emotional state, using a metaphor of a “fever” that “burns” within him. The second stanza introduces the speaker’s desire for music to calm his fever, using personification to describe music as an entity with the power to “cure” and “cleanse” the speaker’s soul.
The third stanza describes the speaker’s anticipation of the healing power of music, using vivid imagery to depict the transformative effect of music on the speaker’s body and mind. The final stanza concludes with the speaker’s gratitude for music, which has brought him peace and restored his health.
Literary Devices
Herrick uses several literary devices to convey the theme of the healing power of music in “To Music, To Calm His Fever”.
Metaphor
The use of the metaphor of a “fever” that “burns” within the speaker creates a vivid image of the intensity of his physical and emotional distress. The metaphor also suggests that music has the power to heal the speaker’s fever, just as it has the power to calm the heat of an actual fever.
Personification
Herrick personifies music as an entity with the power to “cure” and “cleanse” the speaker’s soul. This personification reinforces the idea that music is more than just a sound or a form of entertainment, but a force that can have a transformative effect on the human spirit.
Imagery
The vivid imagery used in the third stanza creates a sensory experience for the reader, as the speaker describes the physical and emotional effects of music on his body and mind. The image of the “cool wind” that “blows” through the speaker’s “burning veins” suggests a physical sensation of relief and refreshment, while the image of the “balm” that “falls” on the speaker’s troubled mind suggests a psychological sense of calm and peace.
Interpretation
“To Music, To Calm His Fever” can be interpreted as a reflection of the human desire for healing and restoration in times of physical and emotional distress. The poem suggests that music has the power to provide solace and comfort to the human soul, even in the midst of suffering.
The metaphor of the “fever” can be seen as a symbol of the human condition, which is often characterized by physical and emotional pain. The speaker’s plea to music to calm his fever suggests that he recognizes the power of music to provide relief from the turmoil of his inner life.
The personification of music as a healing entity reinforces the idea that music has a transformative effect on the human spirit. The speaker’s desire for music to “cure” and “cleanse” his soul suggests that music is more than just a form of entertainment, but a force that can have a profound impact on the human psyche.
The vivid imagery used in the third stanza suggests that music has both physical and emotional effects on the human body and mind. The image of the “cool wind” blowing through the speaker’s “burning veins” suggests a physical sensation of relief and refreshment, while the image of the “balm” falling on the speaker’s troubled mind suggests a psychological sense of calm and peace.
Conclusion
“To Music, To Calm His Fever” is a powerful expression of the human desire for healing and restoration in times of physical and emotional distress. The poem suggests that music has the power to provide solace and comfort to the human soul, even in the midst of suffering.
Herrick’s use of metaphor, personification, and vivid imagery create a sensory experience for the reader, reinforcing the theme of the transformative power of music. The poem’s iambic tetrameter rhythm creates a musical effect that reinforces the idea that music is more than just a form of entertainment, but a force that can have a profound impact on the human spirit.
As a literary work, “To Music, To Calm His Fever” stands the test of time as a classic example of the power of poetry to express the depths of human emotion and experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has always been a medium of expression for human emotions and experiences. It has the power to evoke feelings and transport the reader to a different world. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "To Music, To becalm his Fever" by Robert Herrick. This classic poem is a beautiful ode to the healing power of music and its ability to soothe the soul.
Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English poet who is best known for his lyrical poetry. He was a contemporary of John Donne and Ben Jonson and was part of the "Sons of Ben" group of poets. Herrick's poetry is characterized by its simplicity, elegance, and musicality. His poems often celebrate the beauty of nature, love, and the joys of life.
"To Music, To becalm his Fever" is a short poem that consists of three stanzas. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs or metrical feet. The poem's rhyme scheme is ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, which gives it a musical quality.
The poem's title suggests that the speaker is suffering from a fever and is seeking solace in music. The first stanza begins with the speaker addressing music as "charm" and "grace." The speaker asks music to "come" and "ease" his "sickly thoughts." The use of the word "sickly" suggests that the speaker is not only physically ill but also mentally and emotionally disturbed.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes the power of music to calm the mind and soothe the soul. The speaker says that music has the ability to "allay" the "raging of a fevered mind." The use of the word "raging" suggests that the speaker's mind is in a state of turmoil and that music has the power to calm it down. The speaker also says that music has the power to "sweeten" the "sour mood" and "charm" the "angry spirit." The use of the words "sweeten" and "charm" suggests that music has a transformative power that can change a person's mood and emotions.
In the third stanza, the speaker addresses music as a "noble art" and says that it has the power to "raise" the "soul" to "heavenly joy." The use of the word "noble" suggests that music is a high art form that has the power to elevate the human spirit. The speaker also says that music has the power to "make the heaven drowsy with the harmony." The use of the word "harmony" suggests that music has a harmonizing effect on the universe and that it can bring peace and tranquility to the world.
The poem's overall theme is the healing power of music. The speaker is seeking solace in music to calm his fevered mind and soothe his troubled soul. The poem suggests that music has the power to transform a person's mood and emotions and that it can bring peace and tranquility to the world.
The poem's language is simple and elegant, and its musical quality adds to its beauty. The use of iambic tetrameter and the ABAB rhyme scheme give the poem a musical quality that is reminiscent of a song. The poem's musicality adds to its theme of the healing power of music and suggests that music is a universal language that can bring people together.
In conclusion, "To Music, To becalm his Fever" is a beautiful ode to the healing power of music. The poem suggests that music has the power to calm the mind, soothe the soul, and bring peace and tranquility to the world. The poem's language is simple and elegant, and its musical quality adds to its beauty. Robert Herrick's poem is a timeless classic that celebrates the beauty of music and its transformative power.
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