To His Coy Mistress
Had
we
but
World
enough,
and
Time,
This
coyness
Lady
were
no
crime.
We
would
sit
down,
and
think
which
way
To
walk,
and
pass
our
long
Loves
Day.
Thou
by
the
Indian
Ganges
side.
Should'st
Rubies
find:
I
by
the
Tide
Of
Humber
would
complain.
I
would
Love
you
ten
years
before
the
Flood:
And
you
should
if
you
please
refuse
Till
the
Conversion
of
the
Jews.
My
vegetable
Love
should
grow
Vaster
then
Empires,
and
more
slow.
An
hundred
years
should
go
to
praise
Thine
Eyes,
and
on
thy
Forehead
Gaze.
Two
hundred
to
adore
each
Breast.
But
thirty
thousand
to
the
rest.
An
Age
at
least
to
every
part,
And
the
last
Age
should
show
your
Heart.
For
Lady
you
deserve
this
State;
Nor
would
I
love
at
lower
rate.
But
at
my
back
I
alwaies
hear
Times
winged
Charriot
hurrying
near:
And
yonder
all
before
us
lye
Desarts
of
vast
Eternity.
Thy
Beauty
shall
no
more
be
found;
Nor,
in
thy
marble
Vault,
shall
sound
My
ecchoing
Song:
then
Worms
shall
try
That
long
preserv'd
Virginity:
And
your
quaint
Honour
turn
to
durst;
And
into
ashes
all
my
Lust.
The
Grave's
a
fine
and
private
place,
But
none
I
think
do
there
embrace.
Now
therefore,
while
the
youthful
hew
Sits
on
thy
skin
like
morning
glew,
And
while
thy
willing
Soul
transpires
At
every
pore
with
instant
Fires,
Now
let
us
sport
us
while
we
may;
And
now,
like
am'rous
birds
of
prey,
Rather
at
once
our
Time
devour,
Than
languish
in
his
slow-chapt
pow'r.
Let
us
roll
all
our
Strength,
and
all
Our
sweetness,
up
into
one
Ball:
And
tear
our
Pleasures
with
rough
strife,
Thorough
the
Iron
gates
of
Life.
Thus,
though
we
cannot
make
our
Sun
Stand
still,
yet
we
will
make
him
run.
Andrew Marvell
Andrew Marvell, (born March 31, 1621, Winestead, Yorkshire, England—died August 18, 1678, London), English poet whose political reputation overshadowed that of his poetry until the 20th century. He is now considered to be one of the best Metaphysical poets. Marvell spent most of the 1650s working as a tutor, first for Mary Fairfax, daughter of a retired Cromwellian general, then for one of Oliver Cromwell’s wards. Scholars believe that Marvell’s greatest lyrics were written during this time. In 1657, due to John Milton’s efforts on his behalf, Marvell was appointed Milton’s Latin secretary, a post Marvell held until his election to Parliament in 1660.