Author: Algernon Charles Swinburne

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    I found in dreams a place of wind and flowers,
    Full of sweet trees and colour of glad grass,
    In midst whereof there was
    A lady clothed like summer with sweet hours.
    Her beauty, fervent as a fiery moon,
    Made my blood burn and swoon
    Like a flame rained upon.
    Sorrow had filled her shaken eyelids blue,
    And her mouths sad red heavy rose all through
    Seemed sad with glad things gone.

    She held a little cithern by the strings,
    Shaped heartwise, strung with subtle-coloured hair
    Of some dead lute-player
    That in dead years had done delicious things.
    The seven strings were named accordingly;
    The first string charity,
    The second tenderness,
    The rest were pleasure, sorrow, sleep, and sin,
    And loving-kindness, that is pitys kin
    And is most pitiless.

    There were three men with her, each garmented
    With gold and shod with gold upon the feet;
    And with plucked ears of wheat
    The first mans hair was wound upon his head.
    His face was red, and his mouth curled and sad;
    All his gold garment had
    Pale stains of dust and rust.
    A riven hood was pulled across his eyes;
    The token of him being upon this wise
    Made for a sign of Lust.

    The next was Shame, with hollow heavy face
    Coloured like green wood when flame kindles it.
    He hath such feeble feet
    They may not well endure in any place.
    His face was full of grey old miseries,
    And all his bloods increase
    Was even increase of pain.
    The last was Fear, that is akin to Death;
    He is Shames friend, and always as Shame saith
    Fear answers him again.

    My soul said in me; This is marvellous,
    Seeing the airs face is not so delicate
    Nor the suns grace so great,
    If sin and she be kin or amorous.
    And seeing where maidens served her on their knees,
    I bade one crave of these
    To know the cause thereof.
    Then Fear said: I am Pity that was dead.
    And Shame said: I am Sorrow comforted.
    And Lust said: I am Love.

    Thereat her hands began a lute-playing
    And her sweet mouth a song in a strange tongue;
    And all the while she sung
    There was no sound but long tears following
    Long tears upon mens faces waxen white
    With extreme sad delight.
    But those three following men
    Became as men raised up among the dead;
    Great glad mouths open and fair cheeks made red
    With childs blood come again.

    Then I said: Now assuredly I see
    My lady is perfect, and transfigureth
    All sin and sorrow and death,
    Making them fair as her own eyelids be,
    Or lips wherein my whole souls life abides;
    Or as her sweet white sides
    And bosom carved to kiss.
    Now therefore, if her pity further me,
    Doubtless for her sake all my days shall be
    As righteous as she is.

    Forth, ballad, and take roses in both arms,
    Even till the top rose touch thee in the throat
    Where the least thornprick harms;
    And girdled in thy golden singing-coat,
    Come thou before my lady and say this;
    Borgia, thy gold hairs colour burns in me,
    Thy mouth makes beat my blood in feverish rhymes;
    Therefore so many as these roses be,
    Kiss me so many times.
    Then it may be, seeing how sweet she is,
    That she will stoop herself none otherwise
    Than a blown vine-branch doth,
    And kiss thee with soft laughter on thine eyes,
    Ballad, and on thy mouth.

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This is a highly evocative and complex poem that employs a rich tapestry of metaphors and allegorical figures to explore themes of love, sin, sorrow, and redemption. The poem starts with a dreamlike vision of a lady, embodying summer and beauty but also tinged with sorrow. Her beauty is so powerful it elicits a visceral physical response from the speaker, revealing the potency of her allure.

The poem delves further into the allegorical when it introduces three male figures representing Lust, Shame, and Fear. The use of these personifications adds layers to the poem, each character bringing with them a wealth of connotations that deepen the exploration of the themes. The lady's power to transfigure these negative aspects into something beautiful and enchanting is a testament to her allure and the transformative power of love.

The structure of the poem is intricate, with an abundant use of rhyming couplets that lends a musical quality to the piece, echoing the lady's "lute-playing". The tone oscillates between melancholic and exuberant, mirroring the poem's exploration of sorrow and joy. The poet also uses vivid, sensual imagery and colors to create a rich and vivid picture in the reader's mind, making the poem not just an intellectual exploration of themes, but a sensual experience.

The final act of the poem sees the speaker send forth a ballad to his lady love, laden with roses. This act symbolizes the speaker's earnest plea for love and acceptance, despite the presence of sin and sorrow. It's a hopeful ending, suggesting the possibility of redemption through love. The poem thus encapsulates the tumultuous journey of love, with all its complexities, sorrows, joys, and transformative powers.