TO HIS COY MISTRESS From line 11 to 24

The first reference concerns a “vegetable love”: the poet loves his lady naturally, according to him it is a simple and natural situation. His love grows like a plant grows naturally. At the further line, he refers to “empire” in order to indicate power and largeness of his feelings. By claiming that he aims at exaggerating, right like from line 12 to 18, where he uses hyperbole to focus on his mistress’ beauty. He states that it would take very long time for admiring all parts of her body. He needs “hundred” and even “thousand” years to watch her graceful: only at the close he appeals to her “heart”, at line 18, in order to parody her attitude. He does not draw attention on her psychological traits.

At line 19 and 20 the poet writes the woman deserves all time he referred to, she is worthy of respect and admiration. At line 21 the poet refers to TIME again: he blames the passing of time, because it doesn’t allow the lover to wait for his lady forever. He speaks about a “winged chariot” that represents time, it is always behind the man (line 21, “at my back”). In addition, he hears the carriage: its presence does not depend on him, it is inevitable. Time cannot stop, therefore neither the vehicle. “Deserts”, at line 24, represent eternity. There is “vast eternity” in front of them: the reference is linked to the exotic location at line 5 (Indian scenery), and moreover it is connected to largeness, at line 12; finally, the concept of “vast” is regained.