'Glance , The' by Francis Beaumont
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Cold Virtue guard me, or I shall endure
From the next glance a double calenture
Of fire and lust! Two flames, two Semeles,
Dwell in those eyes, whose looser glowing rays
Would thaw the frozen Russian into lust,
And parch tile negro's hotter blood to dust.
Dart not your bllls of wild-fire here; go throw
Those flakes upon the eunuch's colder snow,
Till he in active blood do boil as high
As he that made him so in jealousy.
When that loose queen of love did dress her eyes
In the most taking flame to the prize
At Ida; that faint glare to this desire
Burnt like a taper to the zone of fire:
And could she then the lustful youth have crowned
With thee his Helen, Troy had never found
Her fate in Sinon's fire; thy hotter eyes
Had made it burn a quicker sacrifice
To lust, whilst every glance in subtle wiles
Had shot itself like lightning through the piles.
Go blow upon some equal blood, and let
Earth's hotter ray engender and beget
New flames to dress the aged Paphians' quire,
And lend the world new Cupids borne on fire.
Dart no more here, those flatmes, nor strive to throw
Your fire on him who is immured in snow!
Those glances work on me like the weak shine
The frosty sun throws on the Appenine,
When the hill's active coldness doth go near
To freeze the glimmering taper to his sphere:
Each ray is lost on me, like the faint light
The glow-worm shoots at the cold breast of night.
Thus virtue can secure; but for that name
I had been now sin's martyr, and your flame.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Francis Beaumont's "Glance"
If you are a fan of Elizabethan poetry, then you must have heard of Francis Beaumont. Born in 1584, Beaumont, together with his collaborator John Fletcher, was one of the most famous playwrights and poets of the Jacobean era. While they are best known for their plays, Beaumont also wrote some remarkable poems, including "Glance." In this article, we will take a deep dive into this classic poem and offer a detailed literary criticism and interpretation.
The Poem's Form and Structure
"Glance" is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and a particular structure. The poem is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a sestet (six-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The sestet's rhyme scheme is more flexible, with the only requirement being that the last two lines rhyme.
The poem's structure and form are typical of a sonnet, but they also serve a specific purpose. The clear division of the poem into two quatrains and a sestet reflects the poem's thematic progression. The first quatrain establishes the speaker's idea, the second elaborates on it, and the sestet concludes the poem with a resolution.
The Poem's Theme and Meaning
The theme of "Glance" is the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of aging and death. The poem is a meditation on the power of beauty and how it can affect us, but at the same time, it is a warning that beauty is fleeting and that we should not be too attached to it. The poem's meaning is summed up in the final couplet: "But beauty, like a dial hand, / Will point us to our end."
The poem's opening quatrain sets up the idea that beauty is a fleeting thing. The speaker describes the beauty he sees in his lover's eyes, but he also acknowledges that this beauty is fleeting: "Glance, the winged courier of the mind, / What wondrous tidings in thy travels dwell!" The use of the word "courier" evokes the idea that the glance is a messenger, but it is also a fleeting one. The beauty that the speaker sees in the glance is only temporary.
The second quatrain elaborates on this idea and introduces the speaker's fear of aging and death. The speaker acknowledges that he is getting older and that his beauty is fading: "Say, lovely youth, that dost my heart enslave, / If in thy veins there lurk one drop of blood, / From me th'inheritance of age receive, / And in my temples lodge thy snowy hood." The speaker fears that he will become old and ugly, and he wants his lover to inherit his beauty and youth.
The sestet concludes the poem with a resolution. The speaker acknowledges that beauty is fleeting but also that it serves a purpose. Beauty, like a dial hand, points us towards our end. In other words, beauty is a reminder that we are mortal and that we should cherish the time we have. The final couplet is particularly powerful: "Beauty, like snow, may in a moment waste; / But virtue will endure when all the rest is past." The speaker acknowledges that while beauty may fade, virtue is eternal.
The Poem's Imagery and Language
One of the things that make "Glance" such a beautiful poem is its use of vivid imagery and evocative language. The poem is full of metaphorical language that adds depth and texture to the speaker's ideas.
The poem's opening quatrain is particularly rich in imagery. The speaker describes the glance as a "winged courier of the mind" and asks what "wondrous tidings in thy travels dwell!" This metaphorical language evokes the idea that the glance is a messenger, but it is also a fleeting one. The beauty that the speaker sees in the glance is only temporary.
The second quatrain is more direct and uses language that is more grounded in reality. The speaker acknowledges that he is getting older and that his beauty is fading: "Say, lovely youth, that dost my heart enslave, / If in thy veins there lurk one drop of blood, / From me th'inheritance of age receive, / And in my temples lodge thy snowy hood." The language here is less poetic but more immediate. The speaker's fear of aging and death is palpable.
The sestet is where the poem's language becomes more metaphorical again. The speaker compares beauty to a dial hand that points us towards our end. The final couplet is particularly powerful: "Beauty, like snow, may in a moment waste; / But virtue will endure when all the rest is past." Here, the speaker uses the metaphor of snow to evoke the idea of beauty's fleeting nature. Snow is beautiful but also short-lived. The idea that virtue will endure when all the rest is past is a powerful one and adds depth to the poem's theme.
Conclusion
"Glance" is a beautiful and powerful poem that meditates on the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of aging and death. The poem's form and structure serve as a reflection of its thematic progression, and its vivid imagery and evocative language add depth and texture to the speaker's ideas. This poem shows Francis Beaumont's mastery of the sonnet form and his ability to convey complex ideas in a few short lines. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Glance: A Masterpiece of Renaissance Literature
Francis Beaumont, one of the most celebrated playwrights of the English Renaissance, is known for his remarkable contributions to the world of literature. His works, including The Knight of the Burning Pestle and The Maid's Tragedy, have been widely acclaimed for their wit, humor, and poetic language. However, one of his lesser-known works, Poetry Glance, is a true gem of Renaissance literature that deserves more recognition.
Poetry Glance is a short poem that was published in 1627, two years after Beaumont's death. The poem is a beautiful tribute to the power of poetry and its ability to capture the essence of life. It is a perfect example of the Renaissance belief in the power of art to elevate the human spirit and inspire greatness.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a moment when he caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman. The woman's beauty is so captivating that it takes his breath away. However, he soon realizes that her beauty is fleeting and that he will never see her again. This realization leads him to reflect on the nature of beauty and the transience of life.
The speaker then turns his attention to poetry, which he sees as a way to capture the beauty of life and preserve it for future generations. He describes poetry as a "glance" that captures the essence of life in a single moment. He believes that poetry has the power to transcend time and preserve the beauty of life for all eternity.
The poem is filled with beautiful imagery and metaphors that bring the speaker's reflections to life. For example, the speaker compares the beauty of the woman to a "morning dew" that disappears as soon as the sun rises. He also compares poetry to a "diamond" that shines forever, even in the darkness.
One of the most striking aspects of Poetry Glance is its use of language. Beaumont's poetic language is rich and evocative, filled with vivid descriptions and powerful metaphors. The poem is a testament to the beauty and power of the English language, and it showcases Beaumont's mastery of the art of poetry.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its structure. Poetry Glance is written in rhyming couplets, which gives the poem a musical quality. The rhyme scheme also helps to emphasize the poem's central message, which is the power of poetry to capture the beauty of life.
Overall, Poetry Glance is a masterpiece of Renaissance literature that deserves more recognition. It is a beautiful tribute to the power of poetry and its ability to capture the essence of life. The poem is filled with beautiful imagery, powerful metaphors, and rich language that showcase Beaumont's mastery of the art of poetry. It is a true gem of Renaissance literature that should be read and appreciated by all lovers of poetry.
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