'The Falcon' by Richard Lovelace
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Fair Princesse of the spacious air,
That hast vouchsaf'd acquaintance here,
With us are quarter'd below stairs,
That can reach heav'n with nought but pray'rs;
Who, when our activ'st wings we try,
Advance a foot into the sky.
Bright heir t' th' bird imperial,
From whose avenging penons fall
Thunder and lightning twisted spun!
Brave cousin-german to the Sun!
That didst forsake thy throne and sphere,
To be an humble pris'ner here;
And for a pirch of her soft hand,
Resign the royal woods' command.
How often would'st thou shoot heav'ns ark,
Then mount thy self into a lark;
And after our short faint eyes call,
When now a fly, now nought at all!
Then stoop so swift unto our sence,
As thou wert sent intelligence!
Free beauteous slave, thy happy feet
In silver fetters vervails meet,
And trample on that noble wrist,
The gods have kneel'd in vain t' have kist.
But gaze not, bold deceived spye,
Too much oth' lustre of her eye;
The Sun thou dost out stare, alas!
Winks at the glory of her face.
Be safe then in thy velvet helm,
Her looks are calms that do orewhelm,
Then the Arabian bird more blest,
Chafe in the spicery of her breast,
And loose you in her breath a wind
Sow'rs the delicious gales of Inde.
But now a quill from thine own wing
I pluck, thy lofty fate to sing;
Whilst we behold the varions fight
With mingled pleasure and affright;
The humbler hinds do fall to pray'r,
As when an army's seen i' th' air,
And the prophetick spannels run,
And howle thy epicedium.
The heron mounted doth appear
On his own Peg'sus a lanceer,
And seems, on earth when he doth hut,
A proper halberdier on foot;
Secure i' th' moore, about to sup,
The dogs have beat his quarters up.
And now he takes the open air,
Drawes up his wings with tactick care;
Whilst th' expert falcon swift doth climbe
In subtle mazes serpentine;
And to advantage closely twin'd
She gets the upper sky and wind,
Where she dissembles to invade,
And lies a pol'tick ambuscade.
The hedg'd-in heron, whom the foe
Awaits above, and dogs below,
In his fortification lies,
And makes him ready for surprize;
When roused with a shrill alarm,
Was shouted from beneath: they arm.
The falcon charges at first view
With her brigade of talons, through
Whose shoots, the wary heron beat
With a well counterwheel'd retreat.
But the bold gen'ral, never lost,
Hath won again her airy post;
Who, wild in this affront, now fryes,
Then gives a volley of her eyes.
The desp'rate heron now contracts
In one design all former facts;
Noble, he is resolv'd to fall,
His and his en'mies funerall,
And (to be rid of her) to dy,
A publick martyr of the sky.
When now he turns his last to wreak
The palizadoes of his beak,
The raging foe impatient,
Wrack'd with revenge, and fury rent,
Swift as the thunderbolt he strikes
Too sure upon the stand of pikes;
There she his naked breast doth hit,
And on the case of rapiers's split.
But ev'n in her expiring pangs
The heron's pounc'd within her phangs,
And so above she stoops to rise,
A trophee and a sacrifice;
Whilst her own bells in the sad fall
Ring out the double funerall.
Ah, victory, unhap'ly wonne!
Weeping and red is set the Sun;
Whilst the whole field floats in one tear,
And all the air doth mourning wear.
Close-hooded all thy kindred come
To pay their vows upon thy tombe;
The hobby and the musket too
Do march to take their last adieu.
The lanner and the lanneret
Thy colours bear as banneret;
The GOSHAWK and her TERCEL rows'd
With tears attend thee as new bows'd,
All these are in their dark array,
Led by the various herald-jay.
But thy eternal name shall live
Whilst quills from ashes fame reprieve,
Whilst open stands renown's wide dore,
And wings are left on which to soar;
Doctor robbin, the prelate pye,
And the poetick swan, shall dye,
Only to sing thy elegie.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Falcon by Richard Lovelace: A Masterpiece of Love and Death
Have you ever been so in love that you feel like you're soaring high like a falcon? Or have you ever felt so trapped and helpless that you wish you could escape like a noble bird of prey? The Falcon by Richard Lovelace is a poem that captures the essence of both love and death, as well as the dichotomy of freedom and captivity.
The Context of The Falcon
Before we delve into the specifics of the poem, let's first look at the context in which it was written. Richard Lovelace was a poet and soldier who lived during the English Civil War in the seventeenth century. He was a royalist who fought for King Charles I against the parliamentarians, and was imprisoned several times for his political activities. During his imprisonment, he wrote some of his most famous poems, including To Althea, From Prison and To Lucasta, Going to the Wars.
The Falcon was also written during Lovelace's time in prison, and it reflects his personal and political struggles. The poem was published in a collection called Lucasta, which was dedicated to his love interest, Lucy Sacheverell. The title of the poem refers to a falcon that Lovelace had given to Lucy as a gift before he went to war. The bird became a symbol of their love, and it inspired Lovelace to write this beautiful and haunting poem.
The Structure and Themes of The Falcon
The Falcon is a poem that consists of five stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, which gives the poem a musical and rhythmic quality. The language of the poem is rich and ornate, with metaphors and imagery that evoke the beauty and the tragedy of love.
The first stanza sets the tone of the poem by describing the falcon as a proud and noble bird that is eager to fly and hunt. The falcon is compared to a lover who is confident and bold, and who seeks to conquer his or her beloved.
The Falcon now hath brought her to the block, To man, and horse, and dogs, and all the flock, With wonder they behold her, high and proud, And from the azure sky she screams aloud: "I am the mistress of the air and light, The queen of all the feathered race in fight!"
However, the second stanza introduces a note of darkness and foreboding, as the falcon is now trapped and bound. The falcon's freedom is taken away, and it becomes a captive bird that is at the mercy of its owner.
But see, the jesses, silent now the bells, Hang idly by, the hood the falcon quells; The ferrets, sparhawks, lures, all fail this fray, The hawk's bewitch'd, and captive is the prey; Her master hath her hoodwink'd, jess'd, and bow'd, And she in prison, is his captive now.
The third stanza continues the theme of captivity, but it also introduces the idea of love as a form of enslavement. The speaker compares his own love to the falcon's captivity, and he laments the fact that he is trapped and enslaved by his beloved's beauty and grace.
So lovers, in their idle fancy, bound, With garlands and fantastic flowers crown'd, With rustic pipe and timbrel, dance and sing, And love to bondage their own freedom bring; And as the bird doth whistle, squeak, and moan, They cry, Love's sweets hath pleasures mixed with groan.
In the fourth stanza, the poem takes a darker turn, as the speaker contemplates the inevitability of death. He compares the falcon's death to his own mortality, and he suggests that death is a release from the bonds of love and life.
But death doth come, and when he calls, they go, And lay their bodies in the earth below; So from the churlish world, away they fly, Leaving behind them what tormentors lie; But in their death, they have their liberty, And from their troubles they are ever free.
Finally, in the fifth stanza, the poem returns to the image of the falcon as a powerful and majestic bird, but it also suggests that the falcon's beauty and grace are fleeting and transient. The speaker compares the falcon to a shooting star that burns brightly for a moment, but then disappears into the darkness.
O lovely bird, how sweet thy melody, That once was heard upon the greenwood tree! But now thou'rt lost, and in oblivion's shade Thy beauteous form and voice do both degrade: So like a star, thou didst but transient shine, And then, alas! thou didst no more incline.
The Interpretation of The Falcon
The Falcon is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on one's perspective and experience. However, one of the most common interpretations of the poem is that it is a meditation on the nature of love and death, and the relationship between the two.
On one level, the poem can be seen as a critique of love as a form of enslavement. The speaker suggests that love is like a trap, in which the lover becomes a captive to his or her beloved's charms. This interpretation is supported by the metaphor of the falcon, which is initially depicted as a proud and free bird, but then becomes a helpless captive of its owner.
On another level, the poem can be seen as a celebration of love as a form of liberation. The speaker suggests that love is like a bird that soars high in the sky, and that it brings joy and beauty to the world. This interpretation is supported by the metaphor of the falcon, which is also depicted as a powerful and majestic bird, even in captivity.
However, the poem also suggests that love and life are fleeting and transient, and that death is the ultimate release from the bonds of love and mortality. The speaker compares the falcon's death to his own mortality, and he implies that death is a form of liberation from the troubles and torments of life.
Overall, The Falcon is a poem that captures the complex and contradictory nature of love and death. It is a poem that celebrates the beauty and power of love, but also acknowledges its dark and destructive aspects. It is a poem that reminds us of our mortality, and suggests that death is both a tragedy and a release. And it is a poem that continues to inspire and move readers, centuries after it was written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Falcon: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Richard Lovelace, a renowned English poet, is known for his exceptional works of poetry that have stood the test of time. One of his most celebrated works is "The Falcon," a poem that has captured the hearts of many readers for centuries. This masterpiece of poetry is a perfect example of Lovelace's exceptional writing skills, which have made him one of the most respected poets of his time.
"The Falcon" is a poem that tells the story of a falcon that is trained to hunt. The poem is written in the first person, and the narrator is the falcon. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCC, which gives it a musical quality that is pleasing to the ear.
The first stanza of the poem introduces the falcon and his master. The falcon describes his master as a "noble falconer" who has trained him to hunt. The falconer is described as a man who is "stern and strong," and who has "a hawk's sharp eye." The falconer is also described as a man who is "gentle and kind," and who has "a heart as true as steel." The falconer is the falcon's master, and the falcon is his loyal servant.
The second stanza of the poem describes the falcon's hunting skills. The falcon describes how he soars through the sky, searching for prey. He describes how he spots his prey from high above, and how he swoops down to catch it. The falcon describes how he is "fleet and free," and how he is "lord of the air." The falcon is a skilled hunter, and he takes great pride in his abilities.
The third stanza of the poem describes the falcon's loyalty to his master. The falcon describes how he would do anything for his master, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. The falcon describes how he is "true and tried," and how he is "faithful to the last." The falcon is a loyal servant, and he will always be there for his master.
The poem is a beautiful tribute to the relationship between a falcon and his master. The falcon is a symbol of loyalty and devotion, and his master is a symbol of strength and kindness. The poem is also a celebration of the beauty of nature, and the power of the natural world.
The poem is written in a simple and straightforward style, which makes it easy to understand. The language is poetic, but not overly complex, which makes it accessible to readers of all ages. The poem is also filled with vivid imagery, which brings the story to life in the reader's mind.
The poem is a perfect example of Lovelace's exceptional writing skills. His use of language and imagery is masterful, and his ability to tell a story through poetry is unparalleled. The poem is a testament to Lovelace's talent as a poet, and it is a work that will continue to be celebrated for centuries to come.
In conclusion, "The Falcon" is a masterpiece of poetry that has captured the hearts of readers for centuries. It is a beautiful tribute to the relationship between a falcon and his master, and it is a celebration of the beauty of nature. The poem is a perfect example of Lovelace's exceptional writing skills, and it is a work that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
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