Poems by Andrew Marvell

All Poems Original Poems Translations

« ‹ 1 2 3 4 5 › »

The Unfortunate Lover

Alas, how pleasant are their dayes

With whom the Infant Love yet playes!

Sorted by pairs, they still are seen

By Fountains cool, and Shadows green.

But soon these Flames do lose their light,

Like Meteors of a Summers night:

Nor can they to that Region climb,

To make impression upon Time.

by Andrew Marvell

The Character Of Holland

Holland, that scarce deserves the name of Land,

As but th'Off-scouring of the Brittish Sand;

And so much Earth as was contributed

By English Pilots when they heav'd the Lead;

Or what by th' Oceans slow alluvion fell,

Of shipwrackt Cockle and the Muscle-shell;

This indigested vomit of the Sea

Fell to the Dutch by just Propriety.

by Andrew Marvell

Ametas And Thestylis Making Hay-Ropes

Ametas

Think'st Thou that this Love can stand,

Whilst Thou still dost say me nay?

Love unpaid does soon disband:

Love binds Love as Hay binds Hay.

Thestylis

Think'st Thou that this Rope would twine

If we both should turn one way?

by Andrew Marvell

In Effigiem Oliveri Cromwell

Haec est quae toties Inimicos Umbra fugavit,

At sub qua Cives Otia lenta terunt.

In eandem Reginae Sueciae transmissam

Bellipotens Virgo, septem Regina Trionum.

Christina, Arctoi lucida stella Poli;

Cernis quas merui dura sub Casside Rugas;

Sicque Senex Armis impiger Ora fero;

Invia Fatorum dum per Vestigia nitor,

by Andrew Marvell

First Anniversary

Like the vain curlings of the watery maze,

Which in smooth streams a sinking weight does raise,

So Man, declining always, disappears

In the weak circles of increasing years;

And his short tumults of themselves compose,

While flowing Time above his head does close.

Cromwell alone with greater vigour runs,

(Sun-like) the stages of succeeding suns:

by Andrew Marvell

On Mr Milton's Paradise Lost

When I beheld the Poet blind, yet bold,

In slender Book his vast Design unfold,

Messiah Crown'd, Gods Reconcil'd Decree,

Rebelling Angels, the Forbidden Tree,

Heav'n, Hell, Earth, Chaos, All; the Argument

Held me a while misdoubting his Intent,

That he would ruine (for I saw him strong)

The sacred Truths to Fable and old Song,

by Andrew Marvell

Epigramma in Duos montes Amosclivum Et Bilboreum

Farfacio.

Cernis ut ingenti distinguant limite campum

Montis Amos clivi Bilboreique juga!

Ille stat indomitus turritis undisque saxis:

Cingit huic laetum Fraximus alta Caput.

Illi petra minax rigidis cervicibus horret:

Huic quatiunt viridis lenia colla jubas.

Fulcit Atlanteo Rupes ea vertice coelos:

by Andrew Marvell

In The French Translation Of Lucan, By Monsieur De Brebeuf

C'est de luy que nous vient cet Art ingenieux

De peindre la Parole, et deparler aua Yeux;

Et, parles traits divers de figures tracees,

Donner de la couleur et du corps aux pensees.

by Andrew Marvell

A Garden, Written after the Civil Wars

SEE how the flowers, as at parade,

Under their colours stand display'd:

Each regiment in order grows,

That of the tulip, pink, and rose.

But when the vigilant patrol

Of stars walks round about the pole,

Their leaves, that to the stalks are curl'd,

Seem to their staves the ensigns furl'd.

by Andrew Marvell

Aliter

Regibus haec posuit Ludovicus Templa futuris;

Gratior ast ipsi Castra fuere Domus.

by Andrew Marvell

A Dialogue Between Thyrsis And Dorinda

Dorinda

When Death, shall snatch us from these Kids,

And shut up our divided Lids,

Tell me Thyrsis, prethee do,

Whither thou and I must go.

Thyrsis

To the Elizium: (Dorinda) oh where i'st?

Thyrsis

by Andrew Marvell

Mourning

You, that decipher out the Fate

Of humane Off-springs from the Skies,

What mean these Infants which of late

Spring from the Starrs of Chlora's Eyes?

Her Eyes confus'd, and doubled ore,

With Tears suspended ere they flow;

Seem bending upwards, to restore

To Heaven, whence it came, their Woe.

by Andrew Marvell