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The Cavalier Poets
His Cavalier
Give me that man, that
dares bestride
The active sea-horse & with pride,
Through that huge field of waters ride:
Who, with his looks too, can appease
The ruffling winds and raging seas,
In the midst of all their outrages.
This a virtuous man can do,
Sail against rocks, and split them too:
Ay! and a world of pikes pass through.
--Sir Robert Herrick--
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Portrait
Young Cavalier
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A most appropriate way to begin a poetry page for
a Cavalier site, don't you think?
The Cavalier Poets were named because they were
members of the court of King Charles I. It's no wonder why the word Cavalier
renders up pictures of a dashing romantic young man serenading his beautiful
lady. I have chosen a small sample of my favorite cavalier poets and their works
to grace my page and to bring the romance to it that I love!
I've also decided to spice the poetry up with some favorite 17th century art
works. You can click on the art if you decide you'd like to add a print to your
collection! I am currently linking to Allposters.com because they do the best
job with their period collections and selection :)
For a wonderful site dedicated to the cavalier
poets, click here:
Luminarium:
17th Century Literature - Cavalier Poetry
Sir Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
Sir Robert Herrick was one of the last
poets to preserve some of the elements of Renaissance poetry. His poetry struck
me as quite flirty and fun... some of the best things about faire!
Delight in Disorder
A sweet disorder in the dress
Kindles in clothes a wantonness.
A lawn about the shoulders thrown
Into a fine distraction;
An erring lace, which here and there
Enthralls the crimson stomacher;
A cuff neglectful, and thereby
Ribbands to flow confusedly;
A winning wave (deserving note)
In the tempestuous petticoat;
A careless shoestring, in whose tie
I see a wild civility --
Do more than bewitch me than when art
Is too precise in every part
The
Vine A little more racy...
Was
metamorphos'd to a vine;
Which
crawling one and every way,
Enthrall'd
my dainty Lucia.
Me
thought, her long small legs & thighs
I with
my tendrils did surprise; Her belly, buttocks, and her waist,
But my
soft nerv'lets were embrac'd:
About
her head I writhing hung,
And with
rich clusters (hid among The leaves) her temples I behung:
So that
my Lucia seem'd to me
Young
Bacchus ravish'd by his tree.
My curls
about her neck did crawl,
And arms
and hands they did enthrall:
So that
she could not freel stir,
(All
parts there made one prisoner).
But when
I crept with leaves to hide
Those
parts, which maids keep unespied,
Such
fleeting pleasures there I took,
That
with the fancy I awook;
And
found (Ah me!) this flesh of mine
More
like a stock, than like a vine.
Musical Evening
Gaspar
Netscher
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Upon a Black Twist Rounding the Arm of the Countess of Carlile
(A
personal favorite)
I saw about her spotless wrist,
Of blackest silk a curious twist;
Which, circumvolving gently, there
Enthrall'd her arm as prisoner.
Dark was the jail, but as if light
Had met t'engender with the night;
Or so as darkness made a stay
To show at once both night and day.
I fancy more! but if there be
Such freedom in captivity;
I beg of Love, that ever I
May in like chains of darkness lie.
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Julia Disdainful: or The Frozen Zone
Ah the power of a (cruel) woman...
Whither? Say, whither shall I fly,
To slack
these flames wherein I fry?
To the
treasures, shall I go,
Of the
rain, frost, hail, and snow? Shall I search the underground,
Where
are the damps, and mists are found?
Shall I
seek, for speedy ease,
All the
floods and frozen seas?
Or
descend into the deep,
Where
eternal cold does keep?
These
may cool; but there's a zone
Colder
yet than any one:
That's
my Julia's breast;
where
dwells Such destructive icicles.
As that
the congealation will
Me
sooner starve, than those can kill
*****
Herrick was intensely loyal to Charles I and
continued to write poetry about the ill-fated King even through the end of the
bloody civil wars. The following is an example of one of these poems:
To the King
Welcome, most welcome to our vows and
us,
Most great, and universal Genius!
The drooping West, which hithero has stood
As one, in long-lamented-widowhood;
Looks like a bride now, or a bed of flowers,
Newly refresh'd by the sun, and showers.
War, which was before horrid, now appears
Lovely in you, brave Prince of Cavaliers!
A deal of courage in each bosom springs
By your access; (O you the best of Kings!)
Ride on with all white omens; so, that where
Your standard's up, we fix a conquest there.
Thomas Carew (1595?-?1639)
Thomas Carew was a notorious michief maker. He spent some time as an
ambassador for England but not always with success, at least once berated for
making insulting remarks to another ambassador. Nevetheless he retained a good
reputation as a statesman, soldier and poet.
Woman
with a Pearl Necklace
Vermeer,
Jan
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A Cruel Mistress
We read of kings and gods that kindly took
A pitcher fill'd with water from the brook;
But I have daily tend'red without thanks
Rivers of tears that overflow their banks.
A slaughter'd bull will appease angry Jove,
A horse the sun, a lamb the God of Love;
But she disdains the spotless sacrifice
Of a pure heart, that at her altar lies.
Vesta is not displeas'd if her chaste urn
Do with repaired fuel ever burn;
But my saint frowns, though to her honour'd name
I consecrate a never-dying flame.
Th' Assyrian king did none ' th' furnance throw
With bended knees I daily worship her,
Yet she consumes her own idolater.
Of such a goddess no times leave record,
That burnt the temple where she was ador'd.
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A Divine Mistress
In Nature's pieces still I see
Some error that might mended be;
Something my wish could still remove,
Alter or add; but my fair love
Was fram'd by hands far more divine,
For hath she every beauteous line;
Yet I had been far happier,
Had Nature, that made me, made her.
Then likeness might (that love creates)
Have made her love what now she hates;
Yet I confess I cannot spare
From her just shape the smallest hair;
Nor need I beg from all the store
Of heaven for her one beauty more.
She hath too much divinity for me:
You gods, teach her some more humanity.
Richard Lovelace (1618-1658)
Richard Lovelace was a Royalist who would twice go to prison for his
beliefs. He also served in the military... Not only for England but for France
during the wars with Spain. He produced a very small body of work but is perhaps
one of the best known poets in England's history.
Song (To Lucasta,
Going Beyond the Seas)
If to be absent were to be
Away from thee;
Or when I am gone
You or I were alone,
Then, my Lucasta, might I crave
Pity from blust'ring wind, or swallowing wave.
But I'll not sigh one blast or gale
To swell my sail,
Or pay a tear to swage
The foaming blue god's rage;
For whether he will let me pass
Or no, I'm still as happy as I was.
Though seas and land betwixt us both,
Our faith and troth,
Like separated souls,
All time and space controls:
Above the highest sphere we meet
Unseen, unknown, and greet as angels greet.
So then we do anticipate
Our after-fate,
And are alive i' th' skies,
If thus our lips and eyes
Can speak like spirits in confin'd
In heav'n, their earthly bodies left behind.
A la Bourbon
Done moy plus de pitie ou plus cruaulte, car sans ce Je ne puis pas vivre, ne
moirir*
Divine destroyer, pity no more;
Or else more pity me;
Give me more love, ah quickly give me more,
Or else more cruelty!
For left thus as I am,
My heart is ice and flame;
And languishing thus I
Can neither live nor die!
Your glories are eclips'd, and hidden in the grave
Of this indifferency;
And, Celia, you can neither altars have,
Nor I a deity:
These are aspects divine
That still or smile or shine,
Or, like th' offended sky,
From death immediately.
Sir John Suckling (1609-1642)
Sir John Suckling was a wealthy and prominent man. He appeared at court
before the age of 20 and participated heartily in the vices of the day - amongst
them he was an avid gambler and drinker. Most of his poetry focused on military
imagery - and he took his military service with a poetic flair. While serving in
the first Bishop's war in 1630, he was infamous for clothing his contingent in
opulent coats and plumes. Nevertheless, he was an excellent soldier and gained
recognition for that service. He was a Cavalier in every sense of the word...
Duet 1628
Hendrick
Terbrugghen
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Song
No, no, fair heretic, it needs must be
But an ill love in me,
And worse for thee:
For were it in my power
To love thee now this hour
More than I did the last,
'Twould then so fall
I might not love at all:
Love that can flow, and admit increase,
Admits as well as ebb, and may grow less.
True love is still the same: the torrid zones,
And those more frigid ones,
It must not know;
For love grown cold or hot
Is lust or friendship, not,
The thing we have,
For that's a flame would die,
Held down or up too high.
Then think I love more than I can express,
And would love more, could I but love thee less.
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*"Give me more pity, or
else more cruelty, for without this I can neither live nor die." Archaic
French Spelling.
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