1. Cavalier Poetry a.k.a. Sons of Ben or Neo-classicists CavalierChivalry Chevalier Horseman or Knight An Aristocrat or Gentleman

2. Cavalier Poetry Light Based on classical models Restrained & polished Themes: Passage of time & honor Witty, sophisticated, sometimes cynical Carpe diem

3. “To the Virgins” Robert Herrick Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old time is still a-flying: And this same flower that smiles to-day, To-morrow will be dying. The glorious Lamp of Heaven, the Sun, The higher he's a getting The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he's to setting. That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times, still succeed the former. Then be not coy, but use your time; And while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry.

4. BACKGROUND: “An Invitation to Love” Based on a poem by the Roman poet, Catullus Cavalier in form –R–Rhyming couplets –C–Classical allusions –S–Sophisticated and worldly –P–Polished and metrical

5. But this is also metaphysical... A subtle argument in 3 parts Shocking and grim imagery Speaker & Audience: –M–Marvell –H–His “Mistress,” who is “coy”

6. What do these words mean? Coy: Quiet and shy, but also undecided Mistress: An unmarried young woman

7. 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 5 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. 10 My vegetable Love should grow Vaster than Empires and more slow. An hundred years should go to praise Thine Eyes, and on thy Forehead Gaze. Two hundred to adore each Breast, 15 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. 20 But at my back I alwaies hear Times winged Chariot hurrying near: And yonder all before us lye Desarts of vast Eternity. Thy Beauty shall no more be found; 25 Nor, in thy marble Vault, shall sound My echoing Song: then Worms shall try That long preserv'd Virginity: And your quaint Honour turn to dust; 30 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 dew, 35 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, 40 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: 45 Thus, though we cannot make our Sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.

8. Notes: 5] Ganges: a river in India 7] Humber: the river Humber in northern England, close to Marvell’s home. 8] the Flood: this refers to the flood in Genesis; in other words, the beginning of time 10] The conversion of the Jews was to take place just before the end of the world. 22] Time’s winged chariot: a link to Roman mythology: Apollo’s flying chariot drove the sun 29] quaint: elegant, artificial. 36] instant: immediate and urgent. 38] birds of prey: scavenger birds that live off of carrion, like vultures 39] devour: to eat hungrily 40] languish: to suffer in an unpleasant situation 40] slow-chapp'd: slowly devouring jaws.

9. If you were the speaker, would you use this argument? If you were the listener, would you be tempted by this poem/ argument?

10. A Tradition within the Neo-Classical, Cavalier Style: The Pastoral

11. from pastor, Latin for “shepherd”: “a literary work dealing with shepherds and rustic life” Frequently takes the form of dialogues or dramatic monologues Often set in Arcadia: a land of innocence and beauty “Not only a genre or set of conventions, it is often a mode by which authors...have explored questions of human equality, man’s place in nature, and the nature of faith.” Pastoral Poetry

12. Date back to the 3 rd Century, when the Greek poet Theocritus wrote his Idyllls about the rustic life of Sicilly for the sophisticated citizens of Alexandria. Themes include: Love and seduction The corruption of the city or the court The beauty and simplicity of country life “Back to Nature” Other well-known writers of pastorals are Virgil, Dante, Milton, Wordsworth, and Thoreau

13. Part of this tradition is the seduction, not just a luring away from the urban and towards the bucolic countryside, but also a seduction of the beloved: The companion poems, “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” Christopher Marlowe and “The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd” Sir Walter Raleigh “Come live with me and be my love, And we will all the pleasures prove That valleys, groves, hills, and fields, Woods, or steepy mountain yields... “

14. Back to Nature “The Garden” by Andrew Marvell How vainly men themselves amaze To win the palm, the oak, or bays ; And their uncessant labors see Crowned from some single herb or tree, Whose short and narrow- vergèd shade Does prudently their toils upbraid ; While all the flowers and trees do close To weave the garlands of repose.

15. Song by John Suckilng Why so pale and wan fond lover? Prithee why so pale? Will, when looking well can't move her, Looking ill prevail? Prithee why so pale? Why so dull and mute young sinner? Prithee why so mute? Will, when speaking well can't win her, Saying nothing do't? Prithee why so mute? Quit, quit for shame, this will not move, This cannot take her; If of herself she will not love, Nothing can make her; The devil take her! Drink to me, only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine ; Or leave a kiss but in the cup, And I'll not look for wine. The thirst, that from the soul doth rise, 5 Doth ask a drink divine : But might I of Jove's nectar sup, I would not change for thine. I sent thee late a rosy wreath, Not so much honoring thee, 10 As giving it a hope, that there It could not wither'd be. But thou thereon didst only breathe, And sent'st it back to me : Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, 15 Not of itself, but thee. Song to Celia Ben Jonson