Young Love

By Andrew Marvell 1621–1678 Andrew Marvell

Come, little infant, love me now,

While thine unsuspected years

Clear thine agèd father’s brow

From cold jealousy and fears.

Pretty, surely, ’twere to see

By young love old time beguiled,

While our sportings are as free

As the nurse’s with the child.

Common beauties stay fifteen;

Such as yours should swifter move,

Whose fair blossoms are too green

Yet for lust, but not for love.

Love as much the snowy lamb,

Or the wanton kid, does prize,

As the lusty bull or ram,

For his morning sacrifice.

Now then love me: time may take

Thee before thy time away:

Of this need we’ll virtue make,

And learn love before we may.

So we win of doubtful fate;

And if good she to us meant,

We that good shall antedate,

Or, if ill, that ill prevent.

Thus as kingdoms, frustrating

Other titles to their crown,

In the cradle crown their king,

So all foreign claims to drown,

So, to make all rivals vain,

Now I crown thee with my love:

Crown me with thy love again,

And we both shall monarchs prove.

Source: Complete Poems (1996)

Biography

In an era that makes a better claim than most upon the familiar term transitional, Andrew Marvell is surely the single most compelling embodiment of the change that came over English society and letters in the course of the seventeenth century. Author of a varied array of exquisite lyrics that blend Cavalier grace with Metaphysical wit and complexity, Marvell turned, first, into a panegyrist for the Lord Protector and his regime . . .

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