Analysis of The Picture of Little T. C. in a Prospect of Flowers

Andrew Marvell 1621 (Winestead) – 1678 (London)



SEE with what simplicity
   This nymph begins her golden days!
   In the green grass she loves to lie,
   And there with her fair aspect tames
   The wilder flowers, and gives them names;
   But only with the roses plays,
   And them does tell
What colour best becomes them, and what smell.

Who can foretell for what high cause
   This darling of the gods was born?
   Yet this is she whose chaster laws
   The wanton Love shall one day fear,
   And, under her command severe,
   See his bow broke and ensigns torn.
   Happy who can
Appease this virtuous enemy of man!

O then let me in time compound
   And parley with those conquering eyes,
   Ere they have tried their force to wound;
   Ere with their glancing wheels they drive
   In triumph over hearts that strive,
   And them that yield but more despise:
   Let me be laid,
Where I may see the glories from some shade.

Meantime, whilst every verdant thing
   Itself does at thy beauty charm,
   Reform the errors of the Spring;
   Make that the tulips may have share
   Of sweetness, seeing they are fair,
   And roses of their thorns disarm;
   But most procure
That violets may a longer age endure.

But O, young beauty of the woods,
   Whom Nature courts with fruits and flowers,
   Gather the flowers, but spare the buds;
   Lest Flora, angry at thy crime
   To kill her infants in their prime,
   Do quickly make th' example yours;
   And ere we see,
Nip in the blossom all our hopes and thee.


Scheme ABXCCBDD XEXFFEGG HIHJJIKK LMLNNMOO XXXPPXAA
Poetic Form Etheree  (28%)
Tetractys  (25%)
Metre 1110100 11010101 00111111 0110111 010100111 11010101 0111 111011011 11011111 11010111 1111111 01011111 01000101 1111011 1011 01110010011 11110110 010111001 11111111 11110111 01010111 01111101 1111 1111010111 11100101 01111101 01010101 11010111 11010111 01011101 1101 11001010101 11110101 110111010 100101101 11010111 11010011 1101110101 0111 10010110101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,474
Words 254
Sentences 9
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 40
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 215
Words per stanza (avg) 50
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 03, 2023

1:16 min read
138

Andrew Marvell

Andrew Marvell was an English metaphysical poet, satirist and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1659 and 1678. During the Commonwealth period he was a colleague and friend of John Milton. more…

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