Love through the ages


John Wilmot - Earl of Rochester (1647-1680)



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John Wilmot - Earl of Rochester (1647-1680)

A



prominent figure during the Restoration, Rochester was a poet, playwright, friend of Charles II and English Libertine. His poetry was known for its satirical features and bawdiness. His life was reflected in his poetry. He was known for his drunkenness and liberal ways when at court, which resulted in his death at the young age of 33 from venereal diseases.

Absent From Thee


Absent from thee I languish still;
Then ask me not, when I return?
The straying fool 'twill plainly kill
To wish all day, all night to mourn.

Dear! from thine arms then let me fly,


That my fantastic mind may prove
The torments it deserves to try
That tears my fixed heart from my love.

When, wearied with a world of woe,


To thy safe bosom I retire
where love and peace and truth does flow,
May I contented there expire,

Lest, once more wandering from that heaven,


I fall on some base heart unblest,
Faithless to thee, false, unforgiven,
And lose my everlasting rest.



1660 – Restoration of the monarchy – Charles II

1665 – Great Plague

1666 – Great Fire of London

Neo-Classical Period- 1660-1785 (although can vary to 1798)

Augustan Age – 1770-1745

Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

P



ope was a famous poet in his own time, known for his satirical verses and translations. His work is famous for the use of the heroic couplet. Pope was born and lived in London to a Catholic family, a difficult thing to be at the time. He is best known for the satire ‘The Rape of the Lock’, the epic poem ‘Eloise to Abelard’ and his translations of Homer and Shakespeare.

Eloise to Abelard (written 1716, published 1717)

An extract from Eloise’s imagined letter to Abelard, her lover


Ah wretch! believ'd the spouse of God in vain,
Confess'd within the slave of love and man.
Assist me, Heav'n! but whence arose that pray'r?
Sprung it from piety, or from despair?
Ev'n here, where frozen chastity retires,
Love finds an altar for forbidden fires.
I ought to grieve, but cannot what I ought;
I mourn the lover, not lament the fault;
I view my crime, but kindle at the view,
Repent old pleasures, and solicit new;
Now turn'd to Heav'n, I weep my past offence,
Now think of thee, and curse my innocence.
Of all affliction taught a lover yet,
'Tis sure the hardest science to forget!
How shall I lose the sin, yet keep the sense,
And love th' offender, yet detest th' offence?
How the dear object from the crime remove,
Or how distinguish penitence from love?
Unequal task! a passion to resign,
For hearts so touch'd, so pierc'd, so lost as mine.
Ere such a soul regains its peaceful state,
How often must it love, how often hate!
How often hope, despair, resent, regret,
Conceal, disdain—do all things but forget.
But let Heav'n seize it, all at once 'tis fir'd;
Not touch'd, but rapt; not waken'd, but inspir'd!
Oh come! oh teach me nature to subdue,
Renounce my love, my life, myself—and you.
Fill my fond heart with God alone, for he
Alone can rival, can succeed to thee.



Inspired by the 12th Century story of Heloise and Pierre Abelard who fell in love and married secretly when Abelard was Heloise’s teacher.

Romantic Period – 1785-1830



William Blake (1757-1827)

B



lake is considered as one of the first of the Romantic Poets. He is also well known for his paintings and prints. Whilst Blake was largely unrecognised in his own lifetime, he is now considered as vitally important in the development of English Literature. He is known for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents of his work, perhaps the most well known being his ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’
The Clod and The Pebble from ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ (1789)
Love seeketh not Itself to please,

‘Nor for itself hath any care;

‘But for another gives its ease,

‘And builds a heaven in Hell's despair.’

So sang a little Clod of Clay,

Trodden with the cattle's feet :

But a Pebble of the brook

Warbled out these metres meet :

‘Love seeketh only Self to please,

‘To bind another to its delight ;

‘Joys in another's loss of ease,

‘And builds a Hell in Heaven's despite.’


William Blake

The Sick Rose –

from ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ (1789)


O Rose, thou art sick!
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night,
In the howling storm,

Has found out thy bed


Of crimson joy;
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.



1775-1783 – American Revolution

1789-1799 – French Revolution

1807 – The Abolition of the Slave Trade

Romantic Period – 1785-1830





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