Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)
The Garden
1How vainly men themselves amaze
2To win the palm, the oak, or bays,
3And their uncessant labours see
4Crown'd from some single herb or tree,
5Whose short and narrow verged shade
6Does prudently their toils upbraid;
7While all flow'rs and all trees do close
8To weave the garlands of repose.
9Fair Quiet, have I found thee here,
10And Innocence, thy sister dear!
11Mistaken long, I sought you then
12In busy companies of men;
13Your sacred plants, if here below,
14Only among the plants will grow.
15Society is all but rude,
16To this delicious solitude.
17No white nor red was ever seen
18So am'rous as this lovely green.
19Fond lovers, cruel as their flame,
20Cut in these trees their mistress' name;
21Little, alas, they know or heed
22How far these beauties hers exceed!
23Fair trees! wheres'e'er your barks I wound,
24No name shall but your own be found.
25When we have run our passion's heat,
26Love hither makes his best retreat.
27The gods, that mortal beauty chase,
28Still in a tree did end their race:
29Apollo hunted Daphne so,
30Only that she might laurel grow;
31And Pan did after Syrinx speed,
32Not as a nymph, but for a reed.
33What wond'rous life in this I lead!
34Ripe apples drop about my head;
35The luscious clusters of the vine
36Upon my mouth do crush their wine;
37The nectarine and curious peach
38Into my hands themselves do reach;
39Stumbling on melons as I pass,
40Ensnar'd with flow'rs, I fall on grass.
41Meanwhile the mind, from pleasure less,
42Withdraws into its happiness;
43The mind, that ocean where each kind
44Does straight its own resemblance find,
45Yet it creates, transcending these,
46Far other worlds, and other seas;
47Annihilating all that's made
48To a green thought in a green shade.
49Here at the fountain's sliding foot,
50Or at some fruit tree's mossy root,
51Casting the body's vest aside,
52My soul into the boughs does glide;
53There like a bird it sits and sings,
54Then whets, and combs its silver wings;
55And, till prepar'd for longer flight,
56Waves in its plumes the various light.
57Such was that happy garden-state,
58While man there walk'd without a mate;
59After a place so pure and sweet,
60 What other help could yet be meet!
61But 'twas beyond a mortal's share
62To wander solitary there:
63Two paradises 'twere in one
64To live in paradise alone.
65How well the skillful gard'ner drew
66Of flow'rs and herbs this dial new,
67Where from above the milder sun
68Does through a fragrant zodiac run;
69And as it works, th' industrious bee
70Computes its time as well as we.
71How could such sweet and wholesome hours
72Be reckon'd but with herbs and flow'rs!
Notes
1] Marvell wrote a Latin version of this poem, probably before the English one.
2] crowns for victors in games, politics, and poetry.
29-30] Daphne, pursued by Apollo, was turned into a laurel.
31-32] Syrinx, pursued by Pan, was turned into a reed.
37] curious: exquisite.
43] kind: species.
44] "That all animals of the land are in their kind in the sea, although received as a principle, is a tenent very questionable" (Browne).
47] Annihilating: reducing to nothing, or, more probably, reducing to elements.
51] vest: vesture, garment.
54] whets: preens.
56] various: i.e., the broken lights of this world as compared to the white light of eternity.
60] See Genesis 2:18.
66] this dial: a floral dial in the garden.
70] time: perhaps a pun on time and thyme.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Andrew Marvell, Miscellaneous Poems, ed. Mary Marvell (1681). Facs. edn.: Scolar Press, 1969. PR 3546 A1 1681A ROBA.
First publication date:
1681
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 3RP 1.351-53.
Recent editing: 4:2002/2/23
Form: Short Couplets
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