'The Snail' by Richard Lovelace

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Wise emblem of our politic world,
Sage snail, within thine own self curl'd;
Instruct me softly to make haste,
Whilst these my feet go slowly fast.

Compendious snail! thou seem'st to me,
Large Euclid's strict epitome;
And in each diagram dost fling
Thee from the point unto the ring;
A figure now triangular,
An oval now, and now a square;
And then a serpentine dost crawl,
Now a straight line, now crook'd, now all.

Preventing rival of the day,
Th'art up and openest thy ray,
And ere the morn cradles the moon
Th'art broke into a beauteous noon.
Then when the sun sups in the deep,
Thy silver horns ere Cynthia's peep;
And thou from thine own liquid bed
New Phoebus heav'st thy pleasant head.

Who shall a name for thee create,
Deep riddle of mysterious state?
Bold Nature that gives common birth
To all products of seas and earth,
Of thee, as earthquakes, is afraid,
Nor will thy dire deliv'ry aid.

Thou thine own daughter then, and sire,
That son and mother art entire,
That big still with thy self dost go,
And liv'st an aged embryo;
That like the cubs of India,
Thou from thyself a while dost play;
But frighted with a dog or gun,
In thine own belly thou dost run,
And as thy house was thine own womb,
So thine own womb concludes thy tomb.

But now I must (analyz'd king)
Thy economic virtues sing;
Thou great stay'd husband still within,
Thou, thee, that's thine dost discipline;
And when thou art to progress bent,
Thou mov'st thy self and tenement,
As warlike Scythians travell'd, you
Remove your men and city too;
Then after a sad dearth and rain,
Thou scatterest thy silver train;
And when the trees grow nak'd and old,
Thou clothest them with cloth of gold,
Which from thy bowels thou dost spin,
And draw from the rich mines within.

Now hast thou chang'd thee saint; and made
Thy self a fane that's cupola'd;
And in thy wreathed cloister thou
Walkest thine own grey friar too;
Strict, and lock'd up, th'art hood all o'er,
And ne'er eliminat'st thy door.
On salads thou dost feed severe,
And 'stead of beads thou dropp'st a tear;
And when to rest, each calls the bell,
Thou sleep'st within thy marble cell,
Where in dark contemplation plac'd,
The sweets of nature thou dost taste;
Who now with time thy days resolve,
And in a jelly thee dissolve,
Like a shot star, which doth repair
Upward, and rarify the air.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Snail: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Introduction

Have you ever stopped to watch a snail? Have you ever considered the beauty and grace of its movements? Have you ever thought that a creature so small and slow could inspire a work of art? Richard Lovelace did. In his poem "The Snail," Lovelace takes a simple, everyday creature and turns it into a symbol of perseverance, resilience, and beauty. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore how Lovelace uses language, imagery, and symbolism to create a powerful and timeless poem.

Background

Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to understand the context in which it was written. Richard Lovelace was an English poet born in 1618. He lived during a time of great political upheaval, with England torn apart by civil war and religious conflict. Lovelace was a Royalist, meaning he supported the monarchy and opposed the Parliamentarians. He was also known for his romantic poetry, which often celebrated beauty and love.

"The Snail" was published in 1649, during the period when Lovelace was imprisoned for his political beliefs. It was part of a collection of poems called "Lucasta," which was dedicated to Lovelace's lover Lucy Sacheverell. The poem itself is short, consisting of only twelve lines, but it packs a powerful punch.

Analysis

Let's start by reading the poem in full:

"Busy, curious, thirsty fly, Drink with me, and drink as I; Freely welcome to my cup, Couldst thou sip and sip it up: Make the most of life you may, Life is short and wears away."

"Both alike are mine and thine Hastening quick to their decline: Thine's a summer, mine's no more, Though repeated to threescore; Threescore summers, when they're gone, Will appear as short as one."

Right away, we can see that the poem is addressed to a fly. Lovelace invites the fly to drink with him from his cup, and encourages it to "make the most of life." This sets up the central theme of the poem, which is the fleeting nature of life. Lovelace compares the fly's brief existence to his own, acknowledging that both are "hastening quick to their decline."

But it's the second stanza where the poem really takes off. Lovelace writes, "Thine's a summer, mine's no more." This is a reference to the lifespan of a fly, which is typically only a few weeks long. Lovelace, on the other hand, is likely in his thirties at this point and would have been considered middle-aged by the standards of the time. He acknowledges that his own life is longer than the fly's, but adds the poignant line, "Though repeated to threescore." In other words, even if he lives to be 60 years old (which was considered quite old at the time), his life will still seem as short as the fly's.

This is where the snail comes in. Lovelace writes, "Both alike are mine and thine / Threescore summers, when they're gone, / Will appear as short as one." By including the snail in his poem, Lovelace is drawing a parallel between the slow, steady pace of the snail and the fleeting nature of life. The snail may take a long time to reach its destination, but it never gives up. It perseveres, inching along until it achieves its goal. Lovelace is suggesting that we should live our lives the same way, taking our time but never giving up.

Symbolism

The snail in Lovelace's poem is more than just a creature crawling along the ground. It's a symbol of perseverance, resilience, and beauty. Lovelace uses several literary devices to create this symbol, including imagery and metaphor.

Lovelace describes the snail as "Busy, curious, thirsty." These are all active verbs, suggesting that the snail is not just a passive creature but one that is constantly moving and exploring. He also writes that the snail is "Hastening quick to its decline," just like he and the fly are. This creates a sense of solidarity between the three creatures, suggesting that they are all in this together.

The metaphor of the snail's shell is also important. Lovelace writes that the shell is "both alike are mine and thine," suggesting that we all have our own protective shells that we carry with us throughout our lives. The shell is also a symbol of resilience, as it protects the delicate creature inside. Lovelace is suggesting that we should cultivate our own resilience, protecting ourselves from the challenges and setbacks that life throws our way.

Conclusion

"The Snail" is a deceptively simple poem that packs a powerful punch. Richard Lovelace uses language, imagery, and symbolism to create a poem that encourages us to live our lives with perseverance, resilience, and beauty. By drawing a parallel between the snail's slow, steady pace and the fleeting nature of life, Lovelace reminds us that every moment is precious and that we should make the most of the time we have. It's a message that is as relevant today as it was when the poem was written over 350 years ago.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Snail by Richard Lovelace is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of literature that has captured the hearts of many readers over the years. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and analyze its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the speaker observing a snail as it slowly makes its way across a garden. The snail is described as being "slow-paced" and "creeping." The speaker then goes on to compare the snail to a "pedant" who is always "moving in a dull round." This comparison is significant because it suggests that the snail, like a pedant, is focused on a single task and is not easily distracted.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the snail's journey and its purpose. He wonders what the snail is searching for and what its ultimate goal is. The speaker then goes on to compare the snail's journey to that of a human's journey through life. He suggests that, like the snail, humans are also on a journey, and that this journey is often slow and arduous.

The speaker then reflects on the snail's shell, which he describes as being "his house." He suggests that the snail's shell is a symbol of protection and safety, and that it is something that the snail carries with him wherever he goes. This comparison is significant because it suggests that, like the snail, humans also have a need for protection and safety, and that we often carry this protection with us in the form of our beliefs and values.

The poem then takes a more philosophical turn, as the speaker begins to reflect on the nature of time and the passage of time. He suggests that time is like a "stream" that is constantly flowing, and that the snail's journey is just a small part of this larger stream. This comparison is significant because it suggests that, like the snail, humans are also just a small part of the larger stream of time, and that our lives are fleeting and temporary.

The poem then ends with the speaker reflecting on the snail's journey and its ultimate destination. He suggests that the snail's journey is not just about reaching a destination, but is also about the journey itself. He suggests that the snail's journey is a metaphor for life, and that the journey is just as important as the destination.

In conclusion, The Snail by Richard Lovelace is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that reflects on the nature of life, time, and the human journey. The poem is significant because it suggests that, like the snail, humans are also on a journey, and that this journey is often slow and arduous. The poem also suggests that, like the snail, humans have a need for protection and safety, and that we often carry this protection with us in the form of our beliefs and values. Overall, The Snail is a timeless poem that continues to inspire and captivate readers to this day.

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