Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MY MISTRESS COMMANDING ME TO RETURN HER LETTERS, by THOMAS CAREW Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: So grieves th' advent'rous merchant, when he throws Last Line: "bid her but send me hers, and we are friends." Subject(s): Letters | ||||||||
So grieves th' advent'rous merchant, when he throws All the long-toil'd-for treasure his ship stows Into the angry main, to save from wrack Himself and men, as I grieve to give back These letters: yet so powerful is your sway, As if you bid me die, I must obey. Go then, blest papers, you shall kiss those hands That gave you freedom, but hold me in bands; Which with a touch did give you life, but I, Because I may not touch those hands, must die. Methinks, as if they knew they should be sent Home to their native soil from banishment, I see them smile, like dying saints that know They are to leave the earth, and tow'rd heaven go. When you return, pray tell your sovereign And mine, I gave you courteous entertain; Each line receiv'd a tear, and then a kiss; First bath'd in that, it 'scap'd unscorch'd from this: I kiss'd it because your hand had been there; But, 'cause it was not now, I shed a tear. Tell her, no length of time, nor change of air, No cruelty, disdain, absence, despair, No, nor her steadfast constancy, can deter My vassal heart from ever hon'ring her. Though these be powerful arguments to prove I love in vain, yet I must ever love. Say, if she frown, when you that word rehearse, Service in prose is oft call'd love in verse: Then pray her, since I send back on my part Her papers, she will send me back my heart. If she refuse, warn her to come before The God of Love, whom thus I will implore: "Trav'lling thy country's road, great God, I spi'd By chance this lady, and walk'd by her side From place to place, fearing no violence, For I was well arm'd, and had made defence In former fights 'gainst fiercer foes than she Did at our first encounter seem to be. But, going farther, every step reveal'd Some hidden weapon, till that time conceal'd. Seeing those outward arms, I did begin To fear some greater strength was lodg'd within; Looking into her mind, I might survey An host of beauties, that in ambush lay, And won the day before they fought the field, For I, unable to resist, did yield. But the insulting tyrant so destroys My conquer'd mind, my ease, my peace, my joys, Breaks my sweet sleeps, invades my harmless rest, Robs me of all the treasure of my breast, Spares not my heart, nor yet a greater wrong, For, having stol'n my heart, she binds my tongue. But at the last her melting eyes unseal'd My lips, enlarg'd my tongue: then I reveal'd To her own ears the story of my harms, Wrought by her virtues and her beauty's charms. Now hear, just judge, an act of savageness; When I complain, in hope to find redress, She bends her angry brow, and from her eye Shoots thousand darts. I then well hop'd to die, But in such sovereign balm Love dips his shot, That, though they wound a heart, they kill it not. She saw the blood gush forth from many a wound, Yet fled, and left me bleeding on the ground, Nor sought my cure, nor saw me since: 'tis true, Absence and Time, two cunning leeches, drew The flesh together; yet, sure, though the skin Be clos'd without, the wound festers within. Thus hath this cruel lady us'd a true Servant and subject to herself and you; Nor know I, great Love, if my life be lent To show thy mercy or my punishment: Since by the only magic of thy art A lover still may live that wants his heart. If this indictment fright her, so as she Seem willing to return my heart to me, But cannot find it (for perhaps it may, 'Mongst other trifling hearts, be out o' th' way); If she repent, and would make me amends, Bid her but send me hers, and we are friends." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE LETTER FROM AN IMPOSSIBLE LAND by WILLIAM MEREDITH ALL SHE WROTE by HARRYETTE MULLEN LETTER TO MAXINE SULLIVAN by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE AFTERLIFE: LETTER TO SAM HAMILL: 1 by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE AFTERLIFE: LETTER TO STEPHEN DOBYNS: 1 by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE AFTERLIFE: LETTER TO STEPHEN DOBYNS: 2 by HAYDEN CARRUTH LETTER TO MOTHER by JOHN CIARDI A DEPOSITION FROM LOVE by THOMAS CAREW A PASTORAL DIALOGUE: SHEPHERD, NYMPH, CHORUS by THOMAS CAREW |
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