Richard Crashaw

An Epitaph Upon Husband & Wife,

Who died and were buried together.

TO these whom death again did wed

This grave 's the second marriage-bed.
For though the hand of Fate could force
'Twixt soul and body a divorce,
It could not sever man and wife,
Because they both lived but one life.
Peace, good reader, do not weep;
Peace, the lovers are asleep.
They, sweet turtles, folded lie
In the last knot that love could tie.
Let them sleep, let them sleep on,
Till the stormy night be gone,
And the eternal morrow dawn;
Then the curtains will be drawn,
And they wake into a light
Whose day shall never die in night.
An epitaph is message carved upon a gravestone. After learning this group
collectively came up with the idea that this poem will be about a married couple
that has passed away together. We assumed that the epitaph would speak of the
love between the two.

After reading and contemplating on the poem we took a second look at the poem. "
An epitaph upon husband and wife, who died and were buried together." we think
that the poet used this for the title, because typically while reading an epitaph one
may be emotional and feeling hopeless. Though while reading this specific
message they begin to feel hope again, and have a reason to keep going.

We examined the poet's attitude and noticed the speaker in this poem strongly
agrees with the statement “Love Never Dies!". He expresses the importance of
hope, when it comes to being in love. While reading this poem you feel the poet's
tone which is eternal love and hope.
In the beginning of the poem the narrator speaks of a strong love between a
married couple whose passed away, and was buried together. As he continues on in
the poem he tells the audience not to think of this being a sad tale, but that the
couple is only asleep. This is his way of telling the reader true love never dies. If
you live a life as one with someone you love don't think death will be the end it's
just the door for another life together in a much better place.

We feel like Richard Crashaw wrote this poem to give hope and comfort for the
bereaved. He does this by telling the reader things like The force of Fate cannot
even sever the love of man and wife. Saying there's an eternal life for two lovers no
matter what even in death.

He uses imagery like "eternal morrow dawn" (forever morning), "stormy night"
(harsh storms of night), "the curtains will be drawn" (curtains opening), and “wake
into a light" (heaven).

He also uses figurative language like personification when he says "For though
the hand of Fate could force". Fate is not a person so therefore it cannot have
physical hands to force upon anything.

The symbolism of sweet turtles actually means the lovers will live forever live in
heaven together. Turtles are associated with longevity and being peaceful creations
who never commit wrongful acts.

Conceit: "They, sweet turtles, folded lie, In the last knot that love could tie."

Paradox: "For though the hand of Fate could force , 'Twixt soul and body a
divorce, It could not sever man and wife, Because they both lived but one life."