ROBERT HERRICK

 Baptized August 24, 1591, London, England

 Died October 1674, Dean Prior, Devonshire
 English cleric and poet, the most original of the “sons of Ben Jonson,” who revived the spirit of the ancient
classic lyric.
 He is best remembered for the line “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,”
 He is counted among the Cavalier poets.

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”  was written by Robert Herrick in the 17th century. The poem was number
208 in Hesperides. It is known as a “carpe diem” poem or a “seize the day” poem. It, along with others in its genre,
asks a specific reader or group of readers to “seize the day” and make the most of it. In this case, he’s speaking to
women who must “seize the day” before their beauty fades.

Structure

The poet has chosen to structure this piece with a consistent pattern of rhyme, which follows the scheme of abab cdcd
efef ghgh. This sing-song-like scheme is suited to the themes of ‘To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time’ in that it
allows the text to be read as a kind of fable or story that conveys a particular message or warning. The message the
speaker is hoping to spread is closer to a warning than a moral lesson.

SUMMARY

From the title, we can tell that the speaker is addressing this poem to a group of virgins. He's telling them that they
should gather their "rosebuds" while they can, because time is quickly passing. He drives home this point with some
images from nature, including flowers dying and the sun setting. He thinks that one's youth is the best time in life, and
the years after that aren't so great. The speaker finishes off the poem by encouraging these young virgins to make good
use of their time by getting married, before they're past their prime and lose the chance.

RICHARD LOVELACE

 Born 1618
 Died 1657, London
 English poet, soldier, and Royalist whose graceful lyrics and dashing career made him the prototype of the
perfect Cavalier.
 Lovelace was probably born in the Netherlands.
 He was educated at Charterhouse and Oxford.
 At age 16 or possibly a little later he wrote The Scholars.

To Althea, from Prison

It is a four stanza poem which is separated into sets of eight lines, or octaves. Each of these octaves follows a
structured and consistent rhyming pattern of ababcdcd which alternates as the poet saw fit throughout of
four verses."To Althea, from Prison" is Cavalier poet Richard Lovelace's famous song of devotion and defiance.
Writing from jail, the poem's speaker declares that plain old "stone walls" can't truly imprison him: as long as he can
adore his beloved Althea and swear his loyalty to King Charles I, his spirit will remain as free as a bird. Lovelace
wrote this poem in 1642 during his real-life imprisonment, but it was first published in 1649 in Lovelace's
book Lucasta.

SUMMARY

The poem begins with the speaker stating that while imprisoned in his cell his love comes to him and improves his
situation. He imagines that his lover, Althea, visits him and takes his confinement away. His imaginings free him from
the gates and grates which surround him.
In the next section, he recalls moments of happiness drinking with others. These times brought him, and his friends, a
freedom which was greater than that known by fish in the sea. They drink to the health of their king, a fact which
contributed to the poet’s imprisonment in the first place. 

In the last sections, he describes his ability to sing more shrilly than a “linnet.” This bird’s song is not as sweet or loud
as his is. His words will glorify the king and provide him with a freedom greater than that known by the winds which
turn up a flood. The final lines return to the speaker’s lover and he states that their love makes him freer than the
angels which “soar” in the sky. 

ANALYSIS

“To Althea, from Prison” by Richard Lovelace describes a poet’s attempts at maintaining his freedom while
imprisoned in Gatehouse Prison in 1642.