Come, virgin tapers of pure wax,
made in the hive of Love, all white
As snow, and yet as cold, where lacks
Hymen’s holy heat and light;
Where blooming kisses
Their beds yet keep
And steep their blisses
In rosy sleep;
Where sister buds yet wanting brothers
Kiss their own lips in lieu of others;
Help me to mourn a matchless maidenhead
That now is dead.
These lines describe the lamentation over a lost virginity, symbolized by the metaphor of virgin tapers made of pure wax. The imagery evokes a sense of purity and innocence, yet also highlights the absence of the passionate and intimate union represented by Hymen’s holy heat and light. The speaker mourns the loss of this matchless maidenhood, comparing it to a deceased entity.These is lines delve into the sorrowful reflection on the demise of a maiden’s purity. The virgin tapers, as white as snow but as cold as ice, symbolize the absence of the fervent love and connection that should accompany such a sacred union. The speaker mourns the loss of this unparalleled innocence, likening it to the passing of a life. It speaks to the longing for a profound and intimate connection that is no longer attainable.
A fine, thin negative thing it was,
A nothing with a dainty name
Which pruned her plumes in Self-Love’s glass
Made up of fancy and fond fame;
Within the shade
Of its own wing
It sat and played
A self-crowned king;
A froward flower whose peevish pride
Within itself itself did hide,
Flying all fingers, and even thinking much
Of its own touch.
These lines highlight a delicate and ethereal entity, described as a fine, thin negative thing. It possesses a dainty name and indulges in self-love, admiring its own reflection in the mirror of vanity. It exists within the confines of its own ego, playing the role of a self-proclaimed king. This fickle and self-absorbed creature hides its pride and avoids the touch of others, consumed by its own thoughts and self-importance. The imagery portrays a narcissistic and isolated being, disconnected from the world around it.
This bird indeed the phoenix was
Late chased by Love’s revengeful arrows,
Whose wars now left the wonted pass
And spared the little lives of sparrows
To hunt this fool
Whose froward pride
Love’s noble school
And courts denied,
And froze the fruit of fair desire
Which flourisheth in mutual fire
“Gainst Nature, who ‘mong all the webs she spun
Ne’er wove a nun.
These lines suggest that the bird in question is the phoenix, which has been pursued by the vengeful arrows of love. However, the battles of love have now ceased, sparing the lives of sparrows. The bird being described is seen as a foolish creature, whose stubborn pride has prevented it from experiencing the noble teachings and courtship of love. This pride has also extinguished the passionate desire that thrives in the flames of mutual affection. The lines further emphasize that this bird’s behavior goes against the natural order, as it is a rare occurrence for nature to create a nun-like figure.
She, of Cupid’s shafts afraid
Left her own balm-breathing East,
And in a western bosom made
A softer and a sweeter nest;
There did she rest
In the sweet shade
Of a soft breast
Whose beauties made
Thames oft stand still and lend a glass
While in her own she saw Heaven’s face
And sent him full of her fair name’s report
To Thetis’ court.
These lines suggest that out of fear of Cupid’s arrows, she left her own fragrant and exotic homeland in the East and found a more comforting and loving home in the West. There, she found solace and rest in the shade of a gentle and beautiful bosom. This bosom’s beauty was so captivating that even the River Thames would pause to reflect its image. In this loving embrace, she saw the reflection of Heaven’s face and sent news of her own beauty and grace to the court of Thetis.
And now poor Love was at a stand:
The crystal castle which she kept
Was proof against the proudest hand;
There in safest hold she slept;
His shafts’ expense
Left there no smart,
But bounding thence
Broached his own heart:
At length a fort he did devise
Built in noble Brampston’s eyes,
And aiming thence, this matchless maidenhead
Was soon found dead.
These lines describe the predicament of Love, who found himself at a standstill. The castle in which Love resided was impenetrable, impervious to even the proudest and strongest attempts. Love felt safe and secure within this fortress. However, in a twist of fate, Love’s own arrows, which had caused pain to others, rebounded and pierced his own heart. Eventually, Love devised a plan and built a fort in the eyes of noble Brampston. From this vantage point, Love aimed his arrows and struck down the matchless maidenhead, resulting in its demise.
Yet Love in death did wait upon her
Granting leave she should expire
In her fumes and have the honour
T’exhale in flames of his own fire,
Her funeral pile
The marriage bed;
In a sighed smile
She vanishèd.
So rich a dress of death ne’er famed
The cradles where her kindred flamed;
So sweet her mother-phoenixes of the East
Ne’er spiced their nest.
These lines highlight that even in death, Love remained by her side, granting her the honor of expiring in the fumes of her own passion and allowing her to exhale in the flames of his own fire. Her funeral pyre became her marriage bed, and with a sigh and a smile, she vanished. The richness of her death attire has never been celebrated in the cradles where her kindred, the phoenixes of the East, have burned. The sweetness of her mother-phoenixes’ nests has never been infused with such fragrance.
With many pretty, peevish trials
Of angry yielding, faint denyings,
Melting Noes and mild denials,
Dying lives and short-lived dyings,
With doubtful eyes
Half smiles, half tears;
With trembling joys
And jocund fears,
Twixt the pretty twilight strife
Of dying maid and dawning wife,
Twixt rain and sunshine, this sweet maidenhead
Alas is dead.
These lines describe a series of playful and teasing interactions between two individuals. There are moments of resistance and reluctance, with both parties giving in to their desires. It’s a delicate dance of mixed emotions, with hesitant smiles, half-hearted denials, and a blend of joy and fear. It’s a twilight struggle between a young woman on the cusp of womanhood, torn between innocence and experience. Sadly, this sweet maidenhead, representing her purity and virginity, has met its end.
Happy he whose wakeful joys
Kept the prize of this rich loss;
Happy she whose watery eyes
Kiss no worse a weeping cross;
Thrice happy he
Partakes her store
Thrice happy she
Hath still the more.
Think not sweet bride, that faint shower slakes
The fires he from thy fair eyes takes;
Thy drops are salt, and while they think to tame
Sharpen his flame.
These lines suggest that there is happiness in cherishing the memories of the rich loss, symbolizing the sweet maidenhead. The person who holds onto these memories is fortunate, as their joy remains awake and alive. The one who sheds tears over this loss does not experience a worse kind of sorrow. In fact, they are thrice as happy, for they still possess the abundance of emotions and memories. The bride is warned not to think that her tears can extinguish the fire that burns in the groom’s passionate gaze. Instead, her tears only serve to sharpen his flame, intensifying their connection.
Blest bridegroom, ere the rain be laid,
Use good weather while it proves;
Those drops that wash away the maid
Shall water your warm-planted loves;
Fair youth, make haste
Ere it be dry:
The sweet brine taste
From her moist eye;
Thy lips will find such dew as this is
Best season for a lover’s kisses;
And those thy morning stars will better please
Bathed in those seas.
These lines emphasize the importance of seizing the opportunity for love and passion while it lasts. The groom is blessed and advised to make the most of the good weather, symbolizing the favorable conditions for their relationship. The tears that wash away the maiden’s innocence and purity will nourish and sustain their warm-planted loves. The youth is urged to act swiftly before the tears dry up, as the saltiness of her tears will serve as a sweet brine for their kisses. The morning stars, representing the bride’s eyes, will be even more pleasing when bathed in the seas of their shared emotions. It highlights the idea of embracing the present moment and indulging in the beauty of love.
Nor may thy vine, fair oak, embrace thee
With ivy arms and empty wishes,
But with full bosom interlace thee
And reach her clusters to thy kisses;
Safe may she rest
Her laden boughs
On thy firm breast
And fill thy vows
Up to the brim, till she make even
Their full tops with the fair-eyed heaven,
And heaven to gild those glorious heroes’ birth
Stoop and kiss earth.
These lines describe a beautiful and intimate connection between two lovers. The vine, symbolizing the woman, does not merely wrap empty wishes around the strong and noble oak, representing the man. Instead, she fully embraces him with her loving arms and intertwines herself with him, offering her clusters of love and affection for his kisses. The woman finds safety and support in the man’s firm and steady presence, as her laden boughs rest upon his strong chest. Together, they fulfill their vows and desires to the fullest, until their love overflows and reaches the heavens. In this moment, heaven itself bends down to kiss the earth, symbolizing the extraordinary and divine nature of their love. It’s a depiction of a deep and fulfilling connection between two souls.
Long may this happy heaven-tied band
Exercise its most holy art,
Keeping her heart within his hand,
Keeping his hand upon her heart;
But from her eyes
Feel he no charms;
Find she no joy
But in his arms;
May each maintain a well-fledged nest
Of wingèd loves in either’s breast;
Be each of them a mutual sacrifice
Of either’s eyes.
These lines suggest that the happy and sacred bond between two lovers should continue to flourish. The man holds the woman’s heart in his hand, symbolizing his care and protection for her. Similarly, the woman keeps her hand upon his heart, signifying her love and devotion. The man should not be captivated by any other beauty, finding all his charms in her eyes. Likewise, the woman should find her joy solely in his arms. They should both nurture a deep love within their hearts, like a nest filled with winged loves. They should be willing to make sacrifices for each other, even sacrificing their own eyes if needed. It emphasizes the idea of a devoted and mutually fulfilling relationship.
May their whole life a sweet song prove
Set to two well-composèd parts
By music’s noblest master, Love,
Played on the strings of both their hearts;
Whose mutual sound
May ever meet
In a just round,
Not short though sweet;
Long may heaven listen to the song
And think it short though it be long;
Oh, prove’t a well-set song indeed, which shows
Sweet’st in the close!
These lines suggest that the entire life of the couple should be like a beautiful and harmonious song, composed by the noblest master of music, Love. Their hearts are like strings, playing in perfect harmony. The sound of their love should always meet in a balanced and just round, creating a sweet melody that captivates heaven itself. Even if their song is long, heaven will find it too short because of its beauty. The hope is that their song proves to be a well-crafted masterpiece, with the sweetest and most satisfying moments saved for the end. It highlights the desire for a lifelong love that is harmonious, enduring, and deeply fulfilling.
Patrick Fernando Elegy for My Son Summary
