'A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret.' by Richard Lovelace
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I.
Forbear this liquid fire, Fly,
It is more fatal then the dry,
That singly, but embracing, wounds;
And this at once both burns and drowns.
II.
The salamander, that in heat
And flames doth cool his monstrous sweat,
Whose fan a glowing cake is said,
Of this red furnace is afraid.
III.
Viewing the ruby-christal shine,
Thou tak'st it for heaven-christalline;
Anon thou wilt be taught to groan:
'Tis an ascended Acheron.
IV.
A snow-ball heart in it let fall,
And take it out a fire-ball;
Ali icy breast in it betray'd
Breaks a destructive wild granade.
V.
'Tis this makes Venus altars shine,
This kindles frosty Hymen's pine;
When the boy grows old in his desires,
This flambeau doth new light his fires.
VI.
Though the cold hermit over wail,
Whose sighs do freeze, and tears drop hail,
Once having pass'd this, will ne'r
Another flaming purging fear.
VII.
The vestal drinking this doth burn
Now more than in her fun'ral urn;
Her fires, that with the sun kept race,
Are now extinguish'd by her face.
VIII.
The chymist, that himself doth still,
Let him but tast this limbecks bill,
And prove this sublimated bowl,
He'll swear it will calcine a soul.
IX.
Noble, and brave! now thou dost know
The false prepared decks below,
Dost thou the fatal liquor sup,
One drop, alas! thy barque blowes up.
X.
What airy country hast to save,
Whose plagues thou'lt bury in thy grave?
For even now thou seem'st to us
On this gulphs brink a Curtius.
XI.
And now th' art faln (magnanimous Fly)
In, where thine Ocean doth fry,
Like the Sun's son, who blush'd the flood
To a complexion of blood.
XII.
Yet, see! my glad auricular
Redeems thee (though dissolv'd) a star,
Flaggy thy wings, and scorch'd thy thighs,
Thou ly'st a double sacrifice.
XIII.
And now my warming, cooling breath
Shall a new life afford in death;
See! in the hospital of my hand
Already cur'd, thou fierce do'st stand.
XIV.
Burnt insect! dost thou reaspire
The moist-hot-glasse and liquid fire?
I see 'tis such a pleasing pain,
Thou would'st be scorch'd and drown'd again.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret by Richard Lovelace
When it comes to classic poetry, there are few works as sublime as Richard Lovelace's "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret." This beautiful and evocative piece of verse captures the essence of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life in a way that few poets have ever been able to match.
At its core, "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret" is a meditation on the transience of life. The poem is centered around a single fly that is buzzing around a glass of burnt claret, and this image serves as a powerful metaphor for the fleeting nature of existence. Lovelace uses the fly as a symbol for the fragility of life, and the glass of burnt claret represents the brief moment of time that we all have on this earth.
The poem begins with the speaker observing the fly as it flits around the glass of burnt claret. Lovelace's use of language here is masterful, as he describes the fly in vivid detail, making it seem almost like a living, breathing creature. The fly is "busie still," "restless," and "tiresome," and these descriptions capture the frenetic energy of life itself.
As the poem progresses, the speaker muses on the fleeting nature of life, and the inevitability of death. He notes that the fly "dyes" on the "brink" of the glass, and this image serves as a powerful reminder that we are all mortal. Lovelace's use of the word "brink" is particularly potent here, as it suggests that death is always lurking just around the corner, waiting to claim us.
One of the most striking things about "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret" is Lovelace's use of imagery. The poem is full of rich, evocative descriptions that bring the scene to life in the reader's mind. From the "purple light" of the glass to the "drowsie fumes" that rise from it, every detail is carefully chosen to create a vivid picture of the scene.
But perhaps the most powerful image in the poem is that of the fly itself. Lovelace's descriptions of the insect are so vivid that it almost becomes a character in its own right. The fly is "busie still" and "tiresome," but it is also fragile and vulnerable. When it finally "dyes," it is a poignant reminder that even the most tenacious of creatures cannot escape the inevitability of death.
Another key theme in "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret" is the idea of love and loss. The poem is full of melancholy and regret, with the speaker lamenting the passing of time and the loss of youth. He notes that the fly is a "foolish fly," and this suggests that he sees himself in the insect's frenetic activity. Like the fly, he is constantly busy, but he knows that his time is running out.
But despite this sense of loss and regret, there is also a glimmer of hope in the poem. The speaker notes that the fly leaves behind a "sunkissed" wing, and this image serves as a reminder that even in death, there is beauty to be found. The wing is a symbol of the fleeting nature of life, but it is also a testament to the beauty and wonder of the world around us.
In conclusion, "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret" is a truly remarkable piece of poetry. It is a meditation on the transience of life, the inevitability of death, and the beauty and wonder of the world around us. Lovelace's use of language and imagery is masterful, and his ability to capture the essence of life in such a succinct and powerful way is truly awe-inspiring. It is a work that will stay with the reader long after they have put it down, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has the power to transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions we never knew existed, and make us see things in a new light. Richard Lovelace's poem "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret" is a perfect example of how poetry can do all of these things and more. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, language, and structure of this classic poem and discover why it has stood the test of time.
First, let's take a look at the poem itself. "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret" is a short, six-line poem that tells the story of a fly that is trapped in a glass of burnt claret. The fly struggles to escape, but ultimately succumbs to its fate and drowns in the wine. On the surface, the poem seems simple enough, but as we delve deeper, we begin to see the complex themes and ideas that Lovelace is exploring.
One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the idea of mortality. The fly, like all living things, is mortal and will eventually die. However, the fly's struggle to escape the glass of wine represents the human desire to cling to life and avoid death at all costs. The fact that the fly ultimately fails in its attempt to escape is a reminder that death is inevitable and that we must all face it eventually.
Another theme that Lovelace explores in the poem is the idea of fate. The fly's fate is sealed the moment it lands in the glass of wine, and no amount of struggling or fighting can change that. This idea of fate is something that humans have grappled with for centuries, and Lovelace's poem serves as a reminder that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, our fate is already determined.
The language that Lovelace uses in the poem is also worth examining. The use of the word "burnt" to describe the claret is significant because it suggests that the wine is no longer good or desirable. This could be seen as a metaphor for life itself, which can become bitter and unpleasant as we age and face the challenges that come with it.
The use of the word "glass" is also significant because it represents the fragility of life. Just as the glass can shatter at any moment, so too can our lives be cut short unexpectedly. The fact that the fly is trapped in the glass is a reminder that we are all trapped in our own mortality and that there is no escaping it.
The structure of the poem is also worth examining. The fact that it is only six lines long is significant because it suggests that life, like the poem, is short and fleeting. The rhyme scheme of the poem (ABABCC) is also interesting because it creates a sense of inevitability and finality. The fact that the final two lines rhyme with each other (CC) reinforces the idea that the fly's fate is sealed and that there is no escaping it.
Overall, "A Fly About A Glasse Of Burnt Claret" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores some of the most fundamental themes of human existence. Lovelace's use of language and structure creates a sense of inevitability and finality that is both haunting and beautiful. The poem serves as a reminder that life is short and that we must make the most of the time we have, even if our fate is already determined.
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