Andrew Marvell: THE CORONET

怀抱花朵的孩子

THE CORONET

by Andrew Marvell


WHEN for the thorns with which I long, too long,
With many a piercing wound,
My Saviour's head have crowned,
I seek with garlands to redress that wrong,—
Through every garden, every mead,
I gather flowers (my fruits are only flowers),
Dismantling all the fragrant towers
That once adorned my shepherdess's head :
And now, when I have summed up all my store,
Thinking (so I my self deceive)
So rich a chaplet thence to weave
As never yet the King of Glory wore,
Alas ! I find the Serpent old,
That, twining in his speckled breast,
About the flowers disguised, does fold
With wreaths of fame and interest.
Ah, foolish man, that wouldst debase with them,
And mortal glory, Heaven's diadem !
But thou who only couldst the Serpent tame,
Either his slippery knots at once untie,
And disentangle all his winding snare,
Or shatter too with him my curious frame,
And let these wither—so that he may die—
Though set with skill, and chosen out with care ;
That they, while thou on both their spoils dost tread,
May crown Thy feet, that could not crown Thy head.

kokho

Salute!!!

怀抱花朵的孩子

When I read this poem for the first time, I just felt it so beautiful, but I don't know what the poet want to express, actually most of Andrew Marvell's poems are so ambiguous that you can not tell their metaphysical meaning very easily. Marvell liked to create some kind of dream atmosphere, sometimes give not real informations to create dramatic effects, this kind of  tendency is very obvious in many of his poems, many people think him a metaphysical poet, but I do think he pursued more aesthetical success than metaphysical thoughts.
I am not saying we should not think this kind of thing, but I do think we need more prudences when talk about it.

Our talented duessa have gave us a very splendid comment on another Marvell's poet, you can read it first. http://www.reeds.com.cn/viewthre ... &extra=page%3D2

kokho

Poeticly, I see fine eloborations of contradiction of concepts
and symbols...

But philosophically, where is the news?

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