'Elegy VIII: The Comparison' by John Donne

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As the sweet sweat of roses in a still,
As that which from chafed musk-cats' pores doth trill,
As the almighty balm of th' early East,
Such are the sweat drops of my mistress' breast,
And on her brow her skin such lustre sets,
They seem no sweat drops, but pearl coronets.
Rank sweaty froth thy Mistress's brow defiles,
Like spermatic issue of ripe menstruous boils,
Or like the scum, which, by need's lawless law
Enforced, Sanserra's starved men did draw
From parboiled shoes and boots, and all the rest
Which were with any sovereigne fatness blest,
And like vile lying stones in saffroned tin,
Or warts, or weals, they hang upon her skin.
Round as the world's her head, on every side,
Like to the fatal ball which fell on Ide,Or that whereof God had such jealousy,
As, for the ravishing thereof we die.
Thy head is like a rough-hewn statue of jet,
Where marks for eyes, nose, mouth, are yet scarce set;
Like the first Chaos, or flat-seeming face
Of Cynthia, when th' earth's shadows her embrace.
Like Proserpine's white beauty-keeping chest,
Or Jove's best fortunes urn, is her fair breast.
Thine's like worm-eaten trunks, clothed in seals' skin,
Or grave, that's dust without, and stink within.
And like that slender stalk, at whose end stands
The woodbine quivering, are her arms and hands.
Like rough barked elm-boughs, or the russet skin
Of men late scourged for madness, or for sin,
Like sun-parched quarters on the city gate,
Such is thy tanned skin's lamentable state.
And like a bunch of ragged carrots stand
The short swol'n fingers of thy gouty hand.
Then like the Chimic's masculine equal fire,
Which in the Lymbecks warm womb doth inspire
Into th' earth's worthless dirt a soul of gold,
Such cherishing heat her best loved part doth hold.
Thine's like the dread mouth of a fired gun,
Or like hot liquid metals newly run
Into clay moulds, or like to that Etna
Where round about the grass is burnt away.
Are not your kisses then as filthy, and more,
As a worm sucking an envenomed sore?
Doth not thy feareful hand in feeling quake,
As one which gath'ring flowers still fears a snake?
Is not your last act harsh, and violent,
As when a plough a stony ground doth rent?
So kiss good turtles, so devoutly nice
Are priests in handling reverent sacrifice,
And such in searching wounds the surgeon is
As we, when we embrace, or touch, or kiss.
Leave her, and I will leave comparing thus,
She, and comparisons are odious.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Elegy VIII: The Comparison by John Donne

Are you ready to delve into the world of John Donne's poetry? If you are, then let's take a closer look at one of the most significant works by this great poet, Elegy VIII: The Comparison.

This poem is a beautiful example of Donne's mastery of the metaphysical conceit, the poetic device that compares two seemingly unrelated things to create a new, deeper meaning. In this poem, Donne compares the speaker's love for his mistress to a journey, exploring the themes of time and distance, the pleasures and pains of love, and the inevitability of death.

Structure and Form

The poem is written in a six-stanza elegiac form, with each stanza consisting of ten lines. Each line is written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a formal and structured rhythm. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCCDDEE, with the first two lines of each stanza rhyming with each other, and the last two lines rhyming with each other.

Analysis

The poem begins with the speaker comparing his love for his mistress to a journey, with the destination being the end of the speaker's life. The first two lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the elegy, and introduce the metaphor that Donne will use throughout the poem:

Come, let us kiss and part;
Nay, I have done, you get no more of me,

The speaker's tone is resigned, and he seems to be acknowledging that their love has reached its end. However, he quickly reconsiders, and compares their separation to the end of a journey, saying that they should part in the same way that travelers do when they reach their destination:

And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart,
That thus so cleanly I myself can free;

Here, Donne uses the metaphysical conceit of the journey to explore the theme of time and distance. The speaker is glad that he has reached the end of his journey with his mistress, and he is relieved that he can now be free of her. However, he also acknowledges that the journey has been a long and difficult one, and that he has experienced both pleasure and pain along the way:

Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,
And when we meet at any time again,
Be it not seen in either of our brows
That we one jot of former love retain.

The speaker is saying that they should cancel all their promises, and if they ever meet again, they should not show any sign that they were once in love. This shows the inevitability of death, and how it will erase all the memories of their love like a journey that is over.

In the second stanza of the poem, the speaker compares their love to a river, flowing from one source to another. He uses the metaphor of the river to explore the theme of time and the passage of life:

Now at the last gasp of Love's latest breath,
When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies,
When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death,
And Innocence is closing up his eyes,

Here, the speaker is painting a picture of the end of love, and how it is like the end of life. He is saying that at the end of love, passion dies, faith is tested, and innocence is lost. However, he also acknowledges that their love has been like a river, and that it will continue to flow even after their separation:

Now, if thou wouldst, when all have given him over,
From death to life thou might'st him yet recover.

The speaker is saying that even though their love has ended, it could be revived if his mistress wanted to. This shows how love can transcend time and distance, and how it can be rekindled even after it has been lost.

In the third stanza of the poem, the speaker compares their love to a bird, flying from one place to another. He uses the metaphor of the bird to explore the theme of freedom and the pain of separation:

But thou wilt not, nor he will not be won,
Thou canst not, nor he will not, yield to me;

Here, the speaker is saying that their love has reached its end, and that they cannot be together anymore. However, he also acknowledges the pain of separation, and how it is like a bird that is trapped and cannot fly:

And, like a wounded snake, drags his slow length along.

The speaker is saying that he feels like a wounded snake, dragging himself along, unable to move on from their love. This shows how love can be painful and can leave scars that are hard to heal.

In the fourth stanza of the poem, the speaker compares their love to a flower, blooming and fading away. He uses the metaphor of the flower to explore the theme of beauty and transience:

So, in the midst of this unthrifty state,
Love, lend me patience to forbear a while;

Here, the speaker is saying that their love has reached its end, and that they must be patient and wait for it to fade away. He acknowledges that their love was beautiful, like a flower, but that it is now fading away, like autumn leaves falling from a tree:

That after-harvest ere we mow, may have
Abundance of flowers enough for one year.

The speaker is saying that even though their love is fading away, it will still be beautiful, like the flowers that bloom after the harvest. This shows how even though love is transitory, it can still be beautiful and leave lasting memories.

In the fifth stanza of the poem, the speaker compares their love to a fire, burning and consuming everything in its path. He uses the metaphor of the fire to explore the theme of passion and desire:

But since that I must die at last, 'tis best
Thus to use myself in jest,

Here, the speaker is saying that even though their love has ended, he still feels the passion and desire that he felt when they were together. He acknowledges the pain of separation, but he also recognizes the power of love, and how it can burn like a fire:

As a scorned lover doth, to show his wit,
But, though I burn, I am not consumed by it.

The speaker is saying that even though he feels the pain of separation, he is not consumed by it. This shows how even though love can be intense, it can also be controlled and channeled into something else.

In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker compares their love to a sunset, fading away into darkness. He uses the metaphor of the sunset to explore the theme of the end of life:

For when we die,
We die as if we should not rise again.

Here, the speaker is saying that their love has ended, and that it has faded away like a sunset. He acknowledges the pain of separation, but he also recognizes that death is inevitable, and that it brings an end to all things:

And is consumed in the quick-burning fire:
This, this is spite, that, thou dost go from me,

The speaker is saying that their love, like everything else, will be consumed by the flames of death. He also acknowledges the pain of separation, and how it is a cruel twist of fate that they must be apart.

Conclusion

In Elegy VIII: The Comparison, Donne uses the metaphysical conceit to explore the themes of time and distance, the pleasures and pains of love, and the inevitability of death. He compares their love to a journey, a river, a bird, a flower, a fire, and a sunset, using each metaphor to create a deeper meaning and explore the complexities of love.

The poem is a beautiful example of Donne's mastery of language, and his ability to create a rich and complex world through his words. It is a testament to the power of love, and how it can transcend time and distance, even in the face of death. It is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, and how we must cherish every moment that we have with the people we love.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Donne's Elegy VIII: The Comparison is a classic poem that explores the theme of love and loss. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and how it can be compared to other things in life. In this analysis, we will explore the various elements of the poem, including its structure, language, and imagery, to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

Structure

The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of nine lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCCDDD, with the first two lines of each stanza rhyming with each other. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic and musical quality. The use of enjambment, where the lines run on without punctuation, creates a sense of flow and continuity, which is appropriate for a poem about love and loss.

Language

The language used in the poem is rich and evocative, with a mix of metaphors and similes that create a vivid picture of the speaker's emotions. The poem begins with the line "No lover saith, I love, nor any other / Can judge a perfect lover," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "perfect" suggests that the speaker is searching for an ideal that may not exist, and that love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that cannot be easily defined.

The poem is full of contrasts and comparisons, such as "As lightning to the nightingale," which compares the suddenness of love to the beauty of a bird's song. The use of the word "lightning" suggests that love can strike unexpectedly, while the nightingale's song is a symbol of beauty and joy. The poem also compares love to other things, such as "As pearls dissolve in vinegar," which suggests that love can be fragile and easily destroyed.

Imagery

The imagery used in the poem is powerful and evocative, with a mix of natural and man-made images that create a sense of depth and complexity. The use of the word "nightingale" in the first stanza is a powerful image that suggests the beauty and joy of love. The nightingale's song is a symbol of love and happiness, and the suddenness of the lightning is a reminder that love can strike unexpectedly.

The second stanza uses the image of "a furnace in a funeral" to describe the intensity of the speaker's emotions. The use of the word "funeral" suggests that the speaker is mourning the loss of a loved one, and the image of the furnace suggests that the speaker's emotions are burning hot and intense.

The third stanza uses the image of "a dying dolphin" to describe the speaker's feelings of loss and despair. The dolphin is a symbol of beauty and grace, and the image of it dying suggests that the speaker's emotions are slowly fading away.

Overall, the imagery in the poem creates a sense of depth and complexity that reflects the speaker's emotions and the complexity of love and loss.

Conclusion

In conclusion, John Donne's Elegy VIII: The Comparison is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of love and loss. The poem uses a mix of structure, language, and imagery to create a vivid picture of the speaker's emotions and the complexity of love. The use of contrasts and comparisons creates a sense of depth and complexity that reflects the complexity of love and loss. Overall, the poem is a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of love, and the importance of cherishing the people we love while we have them.

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