The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd

(Poem by Sir Walter Raleigh)

If all the world and love were young, And truth in every shepherd’s tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee and be thy love.   Time drives the flocks from field to fold When rivers rage and rocks grow cold, And Philomel becometh dumb; The rest complains of cares to come.   The flowers do fade, and wanton fields To wayward winter reckoning yields; A honey tongue, a heart of gall, Is fancy’s spring, but sorrow’s fall.

Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses, Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten— In folly ripe, in reason rotten[86].   Thy belt of straw and ivy buds, Thy coral clasps and amber studs, All these in me no means can move To come to thee and be thy love.   But could youth last and love still breed, Had joys no date nor age no need, Then these delights my mind might move To live with thee and be thy love.

After Reading

Comprehension: Recall and Interpret

1. What does the shepherd ask of his beloved in the first stanza? What does he tell her they will do if she agrees to his request?

2. What things does the shepherd promise to give his beloved? What do these promises tell you about the shepherd and his love for the woman?

3. Describe the kind of life the couple would have according to the shepherd. In your opinion, is this a realistic possibility? Why or why not?

4. What does the nymph imply about the shepherd in the first stanza?

5. How does the nymph characterize all the treasures the shepherd offers? What does her response tell you about her view of life?

6. What does she say might convince her to love the shepherd? In your opinion, is it likely that she will ever do as the shepherd asks? Why or why not?

Literary Analysis: Evaluate and Connect

7. Identify Pastoral Elements What details does Marlowe use to create an idealized portrait of the rural life of shepherds?

8. Make Inferences Reread lines 1–4 of “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd.” What does this statement suggest about the nymph’s attitude toward the shepherd?

9. Draw Conclusions How would you describe the nymph’s view of each of the following subjects? Cite evidence from Raleigh’s poem.

• lovers’ words

• the value of love tokens

• planning for the future

10. Analyze Imagery In “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd,” note Raleigh’s use of imagery that reflects seasonal change. What idea is conveyed through this imagery?

Compare SpeakersThere are many lines in “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” that parallel lines in “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love.” Refer to the chart you made as you read these poems. What do the statements reveal about each poet’s perspective on passion?

12. Make Judgments Raleigh was not the only Elizabethan poet who was inspired by “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love.” What qualities do you think made Marlowe’s poem so popular and intriguing? Support your opinion with evidence from the poem.

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