'Cleopatra' by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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HER mouth is fragrant as a vine,
A vine with birds in all its boughs;
Serpent and scarab for a sign
Between the beauty of her brows
And the amorous deep lids divine.
Her great curled hair makes luminous
Her cheeks, her lifted throat and chin.
Shall she not have the hearts of us
To shatter, and the loves therein
To shred between her fingers thus?
Small ruined broken strays of light,
Pearl after pearl she shreds them through
Her long sweet sleepy fingers, white
As any pearl's heart veined with blue,
And soft as dew on a soft night.
As if the very eyes of love
Shone through her shutting lids, and stole
The slow looks of a snake or dove;
As if her lips absorbed the whole
Of love, her soul the soul thereof.
Lost, all the lordly pearls that were
Wrung from the sea's heart, from the green
Coasts of the Indian gulf-river;
Lost, all the loves of the world---so keen
Towards this queen for love of her.
You see against her throat the small
Sharp glittering shadows of them shake;
And through her hair the imperial
Curled likeness of the river snake,
Whose bite shall make an end of all.
Through the scales sheathing him like wings,
Through hieroglyphs of gold and gem,
The strong sense of her beauty stings,
Like a keen pulse of love in them,
A running flame through all his rings.
Under those low large lids of hers
She hath the histories of all time;
The fruit of foliage-stricken years;
The old seasons with their heavy chime
That leaves its rhyme in the world's ears.
She sees the hand of death made bare,
The ravelled riddle of the skies,
The faces faded that were fair,
The mouths made speechless that were wise,
The hollow eyes and dusty hair;
The shape and shadow of mystic things,
Things that fate fashions or forbids;
The staff of time-forgotten Kings
Whose name falls off the Pyramids,
Their coffin-lids and grave-clothings;
Dank dregs, the scum of pool or clod,
God-spawn of lizard-footed clans,
And those dog-headed hulks that trod
Swart necks of the old Egyptians,
Raw draughts of man's beginning God;
The poised hawk, quivering ere he smote,
With plume-like gems on breast and back;
The asps and water-worms afloat
Between the rush-flowers moist and slack;
The cat's warm black bright rising throat.
The purple days of drouth expand
Like a scroll opened out again;
The molten heaven drier than sand,
The hot red heaven without rain,
Sheds iron pain on the empty land.
All Egypt aches in the sun's sight;
The lips of men are harsh for drouth,
The fierce air leaves their cheeks burnt white,
Charred by the bitter blowing south,
Whose dusty mouth is sharp to bite.
All this she dreams of, and her eyes
Are wrought after the sense hereof.
There is no heart in her for sighs;
The face of her is more than love---
A name above the Ptolemies.
Her great grave beauty covers her
As that sleek spoil beneath her feet
Clothed once the anointed soothsayer;
The hallowing is gone forth from it
Now, made unmeet for priests to wear.
She treads on gods and god-like things,
On fate and fear and life and death,
On hate that cleaves and love that clings,
All that is brought forth of man's breath
And perisheth with what it brings.
She holds her future close, her lips
Hold fast the face of things to be;
Actium, and sound of war that dips
Down the blown valleys of the sea,
Far sails that flee, and storms of ships;
The laughing red sweet mouth of wine
At ending of life's festival;
That spice of cerecloths, and the fine
White bitter dust funereal
Sprinkled on all things for a sign;
His face, who was and was not he,
In whom, alive, her life abode;
The end, when she gained heart to see
Those ways of death wherein she trod,
Goddess by god, with Antony.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Introduction
Cleopatra, written by Algernon Charles Swinburne, is a classic poem that explores the beauty, power, and seduction of the infamous Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. Swinburne's poetry is characterized by his use of rich imagery, elaborate language, and a focus on sensuality and passion. In this critique, we will take an in-depth look at Cleopatra, analyzing its themes, imagery, and poetic techniques to better understand Swinburne's interpretation of this historical figure.
Analysis
Themes
Cleopatra is a poem that focuses on several themes, including power, beauty, seduction, and death. Swinburne presents Cleopatra as a woman who possesses great power and beauty, but who is ultimately undone by her own lust and desire for control.
Throughout the poem, we see Cleopatra's seductive nature at play as she uses her charm to manipulate and control those around her. Swinburne portrays her as a femme fatale, a woman who is both alluring and dangerous. Her beauty and charm are a weapon that she uses to control those around her, and ultimately lead to her downfall.
Despite her power and beauty, Cleopatra is also a tragic figure. Swinburne portrays her as a woman who is trapped by her own desires, unable to escape the consequences of her actions. Her tragic fate serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of lust and ambition.
Imagery
Swinburne's use of imagery is one of the defining features of Cleopatra. He employs rich and elaborate language to create vivid images that bring Cleopatra's story to life.
One of the most striking images in the poem is Swinburne's description of Cleopatra's physical appearance. He portrays her as a woman of great beauty, with "eyes that shone as doth the sun in heaven" and "lips of love that laughed with love of death." This description underscores Cleopatra's seductive nature, emphasizing her allure and charm.
Swinburne also uses imagery to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. Throughout the poem, he describes the setting in rich detail, using language that evokes the heat and sensuality of Egypt. This creates a sense of immersion for the reader, allowing them to feel as though they are experiencing the story firsthand.
Poetic Techniques
Swinburne uses several poetic techniques to create the rich and elaborate language of Cleopatra. One of the most notable is his use of alliteration, which is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. This technique can be seen in lines like "her face was fairer than the morning's face" and "purple pools of passion and of pain."
Swinburne also uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis. This technique can be seen in lines like "I have loved thee, O Cleopatra!" and "from the crown of thy head to the sole of thy foot."
Another technique that Swinburne employs is the use of symbolism. Throughout the poem, he uses symbols like the serpent and the asp to represent Cleopatra's power and seductive nature. These symbols reinforce the themes of the poem, providing deeper meaning and significance to the narrative.
Conclusion
Cleopatra is a classic poem that explores the themes of power, beauty, seduction, and death. Swinburne's use of rich imagery, poetic techniques, and symbolism create a vivid and immersive experience that brings the story of Cleopatra to life. Through his portrayal of this iconic figure, Swinburne offers a cautionary tale about the dangers of lust and ambition, while also celebrating the enduring power of beauty and seduction. Whether read for its literary merit or historical significance, Cleopatra remains a timeless work of art that continues to captivate and inspire readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Algernon Charles Swinburne's "Poetry Cleopatra" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the legendary queen of Egypt. The poem is a tribute to Cleopatra's beauty, power, and intelligence, and it is a celebration of her life and legacy. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem, and we will examine how Swinburne's portrayal of Cleopatra reflects the Victorian era's fascination with exoticism and Orientalism.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of Cleopatra's life. The first part describes her beauty and her seductive powers, the second part focuses on her political acumen and her role as a queen, and the third part deals with her tragic end. Throughout the poem, Swinburne uses vivid imagery and rich language to create a vivid portrait of Cleopatra.
In the first part of the poem, Swinburne describes Cleopatra's beauty in detail. He compares her to various natural wonders, such as the sun, the moon, and the stars. He also uses animal imagery to describe her, calling her a "serpent of old Nile" and a "tiger-lily." These comparisons serve to emphasize Cleopatra's exoticism and otherness, which were highly valued in Victorian society.
Swinburne also portrays Cleopatra as a seductress who uses her beauty to manipulate men. He describes how she "wove her spell" around Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and how she "bound them fast" with her charms. This portrayal of Cleopatra as a femme fatale reflects the Victorian era's fascination with dangerous and alluring women.
In the second part of the poem, Swinburne shifts his focus to Cleopatra's political acumen and her role as a queen. He describes how she "ruled the land" with "wisdom and grace," and how she "held the world in fee." This portrayal of Cleopatra as a powerful and intelligent ruler reflects the Victorian era's interest in strong female characters.
Swinburne also emphasizes Cleopatra's intelligence and her ability to speak multiple languages. He describes how she "spoke in many tongues" and how she "knew the secrets of the stars." This portrayal of Cleopatra as a learned and cultured woman reflects the Victorian era's fascination with the Orient and its exotic cultures.
In the third part of the poem, Swinburne describes Cleopatra's tragic end. He portrays her as a woman who is "doomed to die," and who chooses to end her life rather than submit to Roman rule. He describes how she "clasped the asp" to her breast and how she "drank the draught of death." This portrayal of Cleopatra as a tragic heroine reflects the Victorian era's interest in romanticism and sentimentality.
Overall, Swinburne's "Poetry Cleopatra" is a masterful portrayal of one of history's most fascinating women. Through his use of vivid imagery and rich language, Swinburne captures the essence of Cleopatra's beauty, power, and intelligence. His portrayal of Cleopatra reflects the Victorian era's fascination with exoticism and Orientalism, as well as its interest in strong female characters and romanticism.
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