'A HYMN TO LOVE' by Robert Herrick
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I will confess
With cheerfulness,
Love is a thing so likes me,
That, let her lay
On me all day,
I'll kiss the hand that strikes me.
I will not, I,
Now blubb'ring cry,
It, ah!too late repents me
That I did fall
To love at all--
Since love so much contents me.
No, no, I'll be
In fetters free;
While others they sit wringing
Their hands for pain,
I'll entertain
The wounds of love with singing.
With flowers and wine,
And cakes divine,
To strike me I will tempt thee;
Which done, no more
I'll come before
Thee and thine altars empty.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A HYMN TO LOVE by Robert Herrick: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you looking for a poem that celebrates the power of love and the beauty of the beloved? Look no further than Robert Herrick's "A Hymn to Love." This classic poem, written in the seventeenth century, is a masterpiece of English literature, blending lyricism, metaphor, and religious imagery in a way that captures the essence of love and its transformative power.
Background
Robert Herrick was a seventeenth-century English poet, born in London in 1591. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England and served as a vicar in various parishes throughout his life. Herrick is best known for his poetry, which is characterized by its sensuality, lyricism, and use of classical and religious imagery.
"A Hymn to Love" was first published in 1648 as part of Herrick's collection of poems, Hesperides. The poem is composed in the form of a hymn, a type of religious song or prayer, and is addressed to Love as a divine force that can bring joy and happiness to the world.
Literary Analysis
The poem begins with an invocation to Love, asking him to come down from heaven and bring his blessings to the earth. The speaker describes Love as a divine force that can transform the world, making it more beautiful and joyful.
Love, thou art absolute sole lord Of life and death. To prove the word, We'll now appeal to none of all Those thy old soldiers, great and tall, Ripe men of martyrdom, that could reach With shot the middle of the breach, When nosing cannon played their parts, And all thy clemency's deserts Were nicely darted at; as though Thou hadst been sworn to skreen the foe.
In these opening lines, Herrick establishes Love as a powerful and all-encompassing force that can overcome even death. The reference to "old soldiers" suggests that Love has been present throughout history, inspiring acts of heroism and self-sacrifice. The reference to "martyrdom" also suggests that Love is a force that can inspire great acts of devotion and sacrifice.
The speaker goes on to describe Love as a gentle force, one that can bring peace and harmony to the world:
All flies before thee, and thy holy, Militant, and sweet company, Is heard and felt in every sphere, From the nun's prayers to the poet's quire. And when thou like a globe hast crowned The world, and made thy circle round, Thy creatures, that on thee depend, Shall find all things their journey's end.
Here, Herrick uses religious imagery to describe Love as a divine force that encompasses all of creation, from the prayers of nuns to the songs of poets. The image of Love as a globe that "crowns the world" suggests that Love is a unifying force that brings all things together.
The poem then shifts to a more personal tone, as the speaker addresses Love directly, asking him to come and dwell in his heart:
O come, Love! quickly come and lay Thy restless head upon my breast; Come, Love! quickly come and display Thyself on this enchanted nest.
These lines are some of the most beautiful and evocative in the poem, as they capture the longing and desire that love can inspire in the human heart. The image of Love laying his "restless head" on the speaker's breast suggests a closeness and intimacy that is both physical and emotional.
The poem concludes with a series of metaphors that celebrate Love's transformative power:
The winds, that make against thee, blow, And think they are assisted so By destiny, that they shall speed More than they did thy winged seed. But they shall find their error out, When I turn back your flying rout, And teach thee, Love, to know and try The fires of inconstancy. The port, that called unto the best, Which late the unfaithful vessel missed, Shall hail the torn sails, and the hull, Which all thy former tempests full Have so tossed and shattered, that Thou hast no guess what thou hast wrought.
In these lines, Herrick uses metaphors drawn from sailing and nature to describe Love's power to overcome obstacles and bring about transformation. The "winds" that blow against Love suggest the opposition that love can face, but they will ultimately be overcome by Love's power. The "port" that "calls unto the best" suggests that Love is a guiding force that can bring people to their true destination, even if they have been lost or shipwrecked in the past.
Interpretation
What makes "A Hymn to Love" such a powerful and enduring poem is its celebration of love as a divine force that can bring joy, peace, and transformation to the world. Herrick uses a wide range of literary devices, from metaphor and religious imagery to lyricism and personal address, to convey the depth and complexity of love as a human experience.
At its core, the poem is about the transformative power of love, and the way that it can inspire people to act in ways that are selfless, brave, and compassionate. Love, as Herrick describes it, is not just a feeling or emotion, but a force that can bring about real change in the world.
The poem also has a deeply spiritual dimension, as Herrick uses religious imagery to describe Love as a divine force that encompasses all of creation. This suggests that love is not just a human experience, but a universal one that transcends individual lives and connects us to something greater than ourselves.
Overall, "A Hymn to Love" is a beautiful and inspiring poem that celebrates the power of love in all its forms. Whether read as a religious hymn or a secular celebration of human emotion, it is a testament to the enduring power of love to transform our lives and our world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A HYMN TO LOVE: A Celebration of the Power of Love
Robert Herrick's "A Hymn to Love" is a classic poem that celebrates the power of love. The poem is a beautiful expression of the depth and intensity of love, and it is a testament to the enduring nature of this powerful emotion. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with a declaration of love, as the speaker addresses Love as a divine force that rules over all things. The speaker describes Love as a "mighty king" who reigns over the hearts of all people, and who has the power to "make a beggar a king." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes Love as a powerful and transformative force that can change the lives of those who experience it.
The second stanza of the poem continues this theme of Love's power, as the speaker describes how Love can "make a lion tame" and "turn a frosty winter to a flowery spring." These images are powerful metaphors for the transformative power of love, as they suggest that love can change even the most stubborn or unyielding of hearts. The image of a frosty winter turning into a flowery spring is particularly striking, as it suggests that love can bring new life and growth to even the most barren of landscapes.
The third stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the speaker's own experience of love. The speaker describes how Love has "taught me to love and to be wise" and how it has "taught me to know the price of bliss." These lines suggest that the speaker has learned important lessons about love through their own experiences, and that they have come to understand the true value of love and happiness.
The fourth stanza of the poem returns to the theme of Love's power, as the speaker describes how Love can "make a king a slave" and "bring a god unto his knees." These lines suggest that even the most powerful and mighty of beings are not immune to the power of love, and that it can humble even the most arrogant and proud of individuals.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem is a beautiful expression of the speaker's love for their beloved. The speaker describes how their love is "pure and perfect" and how it "shall endure when all things fall." These lines suggest that the speaker's love is enduring and eternal, and that it will survive even the most difficult of circumstances.
Overall, "A Hymn to Love" is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the transformative power of love. Through its vivid imagery and language, the poem captures the depth and intensity of love, and it reminds us of the enduring nature of this powerful emotion. Whether we are experiencing love for the first time or we have loved and lost, this poem reminds us that love is a force that can change our lives in profound and meaningful ways.
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