To Althea, from Prison Rebellion disguised as a love poem, talks
By Richard Lovelace about ability to be free in captivity, metaphor
for anything that takes away freedom
When Love with unconfinèd wings Personification
Hovers within my Gates, Consistency, out of reach
And my divine Althea brings Religious connotations, love is indestructible->faith
To whisper at the Grates; Comfort/ power of imagination, intimacy, secrecy
When I lie tangled in her hair, Another form of captivity, physical love
And fettered to her eye, Chained
The Gods that wanton in the Air, Not restricted to mortal bodies
Know no such Liberty. Not as free as the speaker
When flowing Cups run swiftly round Freedom that comes from being drunk with friends
With no allaying Thames, Metonymy-referring to England
Our careless heads with Roses bound, Metaphoric- loyal to the King
Our hearts with Loyal Flames;
When thirsty grief in Wine we steep, Personification
When Healths and draughts go free, Loyalty to the king
Fishes that tipple in the Deep Enjoy freedom
Know no such Liberty. Emphasis-no one is as free as the speaker,
not even the fish
When (like committed linnets) I Simile-caged birds, emphasises captivty
With shriller throat shall sing Sibilance
The sweetness, Mercy, Majesty,
And glories of my King;
When I shall voice aloud how good Lots of people will hear his message through
He is, how Great should be, reading the poem
Enlargèd Winds, that curl the Flood, Powerful and free
Know no such Liberty.
Stone Walls do not a Prison make, It is your mind that can imprison you or set
Nor Iron bars a Cage; you free
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an Hermitage. Voluntary religious solitaires
By Richard Lovelace about ability to be free in captivity, metaphor
for anything that takes away freedom
When Love with unconfinèd wings Personification
Hovers within my Gates, Consistency, out of reach
And my divine Althea brings Religious connotations, love is indestructible->faith
To whisper at the Grates; Comfort/ power of imagination, intimacy, secrecy
When I lie tangled in her hair, Another form of captivity, physical love
And fettered to her eye, Chained
The Gods that wanton in the Air, Not restricted to mortal bodies
Know no such Liberty. Not as free as the speaker
When flowing Cups run swiftly round Freedom that comes from being drunk with friends
With no allaying Thames, Metonymy-referring to England
Our careless heads with Roses bound, Metaphoric- loyal to the King
Our hearts with Loyal Flames;
When thirsty grief in Wine we steep, Personification
When Healths and draughts go free, Loyalty to the king
Fishes that tipple in the Deep Enjoy freedom
Know no such Liberty. Emphasis-no one is as free as the speaker,
not even the fish
When (like committed linnets) I Simile-caged birds, emphasises captivty
With shriller throat shall sing Sibilance
The sweetness, Mercy, Majesty,
And glories of my King;
When I shall voice aloud how good Lots of people will hear his message through
He is, how Great should be, reading the poem
Enlargèd Winds, that curl the Flood, Powerful and free
Know no such Liberty.
Stone Walls do not a Prison make, It is your mind that can imprison you or set
Nor Iron bars a Cage; you free
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for an Hermitage. Voluntary religious solitaires
