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LyricRestoration · 16814 min · 2 passagesDemanding

To His Coy Mistress

Andrew Marvell →

Marvell builds a perfect logical case — if we had forever, then since we don't, therefore — and the logic is the seduction.

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If we had world enough
Hyperbole

Had we but world enough and time, This , lady, were no crime. We would sit down, and think which way To walk, and pass our long love's day. Thou by the Indian Ganges' side Shouldst 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 than empires, and more slow.

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Plain English

If we had all the space and time in the world, this shyness wouldn't be a crime. We'd sit and decide which way to walk and spend our long love-day. You'd find rubies by the Ganges, I'd complain by the Humber. I'd love you ten years before Noah's flood, and you could refuse me until the end of time. My love would grow slowly, like a plant, bigger than empires.

But at my back
Carpe diem

But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Thy beauty shall no more be found, Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound My echoing song; then worms shall try That long-preserved virginity, And your quaint honour turn to dust, And into ashes all my lust: The grave's a fine and private place, But none, I think, do there embrace.

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Plain English

But behind me I always hear time's chariot coming, and ahead of us lie deserts of eternity. Your beauty won't be found anywhere; my song won't echo in your tomb; worms will take that preserved virginity; your honour turns to dust and my desire to ashes. The grave is a fine, private place — but nobody embraces there.

That's the whole thing.

Read it again slowly — it gets better the second time.

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