'Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress' by Richard Crashaw
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Whoe'er she be,
That not impossible she
That shall command my heart and me;
Where'er she lie,
Locked up from mortal eye
In shady leaves of destiny:
Till that ripe birth
Of studied fate stand forth,
And teach her fair steps to our earth;
Till that divine
Idea take a shrine
Of crystal flesh, through which to shine:
Meet you her, my wishes,
Bespeak her to my blisses,
And be ye called my absent kisses.
I wish her beauty,
That owes not all its duty
To gaudy tire, or glist'ring shoe-tie;
Something more than
Taffata or tissue can,
Or rampant feather, or rich fan;
More than the spoil
Of shop, or silkworm's toil,
Or a bought blush, or a set smile.
A face that's best
By its own beauty drest,
And can alone commend the rest:
A face made up
Out of no other shop
Than what nature's white hand sets ope.
A cheek where youth
And blood with pen of truth
Write what the reader sweetly ru'th.
A cheek where grows
More than a morning rose,
Which to no box his being owes.
Lips, where all day
A lovers kiss may play,
Yet carry nothing thence away.
Looks that oppress
Their richest tires, but dress
And clothe their simplest nakedness.
Eyes, that displaces
The neighbour diamond, and outfaces
That sunshine by their own sweet graces.
Tresses, that wear
Jewels, but to declare
How much themselves more precious are;
Whose native ray
Can tame the wanton day
Of gems that in their bright shades play.
Each ruby there,
Or pearl that dare appear,
Be its own blush, be its own tear.
A well-tamed heart,
For whose more noble smart
Love may be long choosing a dart.
Eyes, that bestow
Full quivers on Love's bow,
Yet pay less arrows than they owe.
Smiles, that can warm
The blood, yet teach a charm,
That chastity shall take no harm.
Blushes, that bin
The burnish of no sin,
Nor flames of aught too hot within.
Joyes, that confess
Virtue their mistress,
And have no other head to dress.
Fears, fond and flight
As the coy bride's when night
First does the longing lover right.
Tears, quickly fled
And vain as those are shed
For a dying maidenhead.
Days, that need borrow
No part of their good morrow
From a forspent night of sorrow.
Days, that, in spite
Of darkness, by the light
Of a clear mind are day all night.
Nights, sweet as they,
Made short by lovers' play,
Yet long by th' absence of the day.
Life, that dares send
A challenge to its end,
And when it comes say Welcome Friend.
Sydneian showers
Of sweet discourse, whose powers
Can crown old winter's head with flowers.
Soft silken hours,
Open suns, shady bowers
'Bove all; nothing within that lours.
Whate'er delight
Can make day's forehead bright,
Or give down to the wings of night.
In her whole frame
Have nature all the name,
Art and ornament the shame.
Her flattery
Picture and poesy,
Her counsel her own virtue be.
I wish her store
Of worth may leave her poor
Of wishes; and I wish—no more.
Now, if Time knows
That Her, whose radiant brows
Weave them a garland of my vows;
Her, whose just bays
My future hopes can raise,
A trophy to her present praise;
Her, that dares be
What these lines wish to see:
I seek no further, it is she.
'Tis she, and here
Lo! I unclothe and clear
My wishes' cloudy character.
May she enjoy it,
Whose merit dare apply it,
But modesty dares still deny it!
Such worth as this is
Shall fix my flying wishes,
And determine them to kisses.
Let her full glory,
My fancies, fly before ye;
Be ye my fictions, but her story.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress: A Literary Criticism
Oh, what a magnificent piece of art Richard Crashaw has bestowed upon us with his poem, "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress"! This poem is a testament to Crashaw's immense poetic prowess and his ability to craft a piece that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. In this literary criticism, I will delve deep into the intricacies of "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" and provide a comprehensive interpretation of Crashaw's masterpiece.
Context and Background
Before we begin analyzing the poem, it's essential to understand the context and background of the author and the piece. Richard Crashaw was a poet and a scholar who lived during the 17th century. He was a devout Catholic who converted from Anglicanism, and his religious beliefs are evident in his poetry. "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" was written during the English Civil War, a time of great turmoil and unrest in England, where religious and political tensions were at an all-time high.
The Poem
Let's dive into the poem and explore its meaning and significance. "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is a poem written in the form of a prayer. It's addressed to a woman, whom the speaker refers to as his "mistress." However, it's not clear whether the speaker has an actual mistress or if this is just a literary device used to convey a sense of intimacy and passion.
The poem begins with a series of wishes that the speaker has for his mistress. He wishes that she would be "rich in blessings" and "fair in fame." These wishes are followed by a wish for her to be "virtuous," which is a recurring theme in Crashaw's poetry. He emphasizes the importance of virtue and morality, especially in women, who were often objectified and reduced to mere objects of desire during his time.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's wishes become more profound and spiritual. He wishes for his mistress to be "securely great" and "happy in heaven." These wishes reveal the speaker's deep reverence for his mistress and his desire for her to attain spiritual fulfillment.
The poem's final stanza is perhaps the most powerful and poignant. The speaker expresses his wish for his mistress to be "divine" and to be "all love." These wishes are incredibly profound and indicate the speaker's desire for his mistress to transcend the earthly plane and attain a state of spiritual enlightenment.
Interpretation
At its core, "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is a poem about love, both earthly and divine. The speaker's wishes for his mistress are expressions of his deep love and devotion, but they are also indicative of his desire for her to attain a higher state of being. The poem can be interpreted as a plea for his mistress to embrace a life of virtue and morality, which is essential for spiritual fulfillment.
The recurring theme of virtue and morality in Crashaw's poetry is a reflection of his religious beliefs. As a Catholic, Crashaw believed in the importance of living a virtuous and moral life. He believed that one's spiritual well-being was directly tied to one's adherence to religious doctrine and moral principles.
The poem's final stanza, with its emphasis on divinity and love, is perhaps the most significant. The speaker's wish for his mistress to be "divine" and to be "all love" is an expression of his desire for her to transcend the earthly plane and attain a state of spiritual enlightenment. This wish can be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of the speaker's desire for his mistress to attain salvation and spiritual fulfillment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is a masterpiece of poetry that reflects Crashaw's immense poetic talent and his deep religious beliefs. The poem is a plea for his mistress to embrace a life of virtue and morality, which is essential for spiritual fulfillment. The poem's emphasis on divinity and love is a reflection of Crashaw's desire for his mistress to transcend the earthly plane and attain a state of spiritual enlightenment. "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress: A Poem of Love and Devotion
Richard Crashaw, a 17th-century English poet, is known for his religious poetry and his devotion to the Catholic Church. However, one of his most famous works, "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress," is a love poem that showcases his skill in writing about earthly love and desire.
The poem is written in the form of a series of wishes that the speaker has for his beloved. Each stanza begins with the phrase "I would," followed by a wish that ranges from the mundane to the sublime. The speaker's desires are both physical and emotional, and they reveal his deep love and devotion for the woman he addresses.
The poem begins with the speaker wishing that his beloved would "love me for love's sake" and not for any other reason. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker's wishes are all focused on the pure and selfless love he has for his mistress. He goes on to wish that she would "be true" to him, and that they would "never part" from each other. These wishes are simple but powerful, and they show the depth of the speaker's feelings for his beloved.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's wishes become more elaborate and poetic. He wishes that his beloved would be "a phoenix," a mythical bird that is reborn from its own ashes. This wish symbolizes the speaker's desire for his beloved to be eternal and immortal, just like the phoenix. He also wishes that she would be "a cedar," a tall and strong tree that represents stability and steadfastness. These wishes show the speaker's desire for his beloved to be both beautiful and strong, both ethereal and grounded.
The speaker's wishes become more sensual as the poem continues. He wishes that his beloved's "breast might be / A magazine of immortality." This wish is both erotic and spiritual, as the speaker desires to be nourished by his beloved's love and to be sustained by her eternal spirit. He also wishes that her "lips might be / A richer storehouse of all sweets." This wish is both sensual and romantic, as the speaker desires to be kissed by his beloved and to taste the sweetness of her love.
The final stanza of the poem is the most powerful and emotional. The speaker wishes that his beloved would "die by degrees," meaning that she would slowly fade away and die, rather than suddenly and violently. This wish is both tragic and beautiful, as the speaker desires to be with his beloved until the very end of her life. He also wishes that he would be the one to "close her eyes" and to "kiss her dying lips." This wish is both romantic and heartbreaking, as the speaker desires to be with his beloved even in death.
Overall, "Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress" is a beautiful and powerful love poem that showcases Richard Crashaw's skill in writing about earthly love and desire. The poem is both sensual and spiritual, and it reveals the depth of the speaker's love and devotion for his beloved. The wishes in the poem range from the mundane to the sublime, but they all reveal the speaker's desire for a pure and selfless love that will last forever.
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