Robert Herrick's poem, "To the Virgins to make much of Time," focuses upon the idea of carpe diem. More specifically, in this poem the idea of marriage while love and flesh are still young should be heeded or one may suffer in their later years alone and loveless. Herrick believes this gift of virginity to be a great waste if not given while it is still desirable. Virginity is a gift for the simple reason that it can only be given once to the taker of the prize, which he believes should be the husband. Therefore, he says to go out and find husbands, for youth is not perpetual and will eventually succumb to old age and loneliness. Through Herrick's use of colorful imagery and personification, the reader detects a sense of urgency and duty for the virgins to go forth and marry while time is still at hand and love is bountiful, thus creating the overall idea of carpe diem.

The first stanza of the poem opens to the personification of the flowers as the virgins:

Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a flying:
And this same flower that smiles today,
To morrow will be dying. (ll. 1-4)

The rosebuds correspond to the virgins in that they are beautiful and delicate, yet they have not reached their full potential and maturity by becoming full bloomed roses. Time is also personified as, "Old Time," which suggests a genial greybeard more than a grim reaper (Rollin 83). Time is still "a flying" suggests a comical image more than ominous but still one of urgency (Rollin 83). The image of the smiling flower indicates innocence and freshness but it only "smiles today, To morrow [it] will be dying." A grim and abrupt end comes to the smiling flower as so will to the virgins if they do not marry in their youth.

The atmosphere of the second stanza further intensifies the notion that time is surely running out for our indecisive virgins. As the "glorious Lamp of Heaven," the sun, is rising and is reaching it's peak. The sun is pictured as a marathon runner in line 7 with, "The sooner will his Race be run." And as with all good things in life there must be an end. The sun will then set and the youthfulness of the virgins will fade. The choice of words that Herrick uses in the second stanza such as "getting," "sooner," and "neerer" create a mood of urgency which also leads to a degree of anxiety. Time is moving on in every aspect of nature and beyond, and the virgins must come to realize that they must harness the same momentum and move into the next levels of their lives--marriage (Rollin 83).

Keeping in compliance with the idea of time being unconquerable the third stanza agrees that youth should be made advantage of but not to be taken for granted. Herrick simply states," That Age is best, which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer." Youth carries its own certain attractable energy that is possibly irresistible. Yet, Herrick does not want the virgins to be deceived in believing that youth will last forever. Time is personified once again as an opposition to youthfulness. In one foul swoop time overcomes youth.

The final and fourth stanza is the most direct and powerful. The young women in which the poem addresses are told not to be "coy." For their receptivity to love is under their control (Rollin 84). Instead of playing games they should use their time, while they are still young, to find husbands:

Then be not coy, but use your time;
And while ye may, go marry: (ll. 13-4)

The last two lines instill a sense of fear that will be all too true if they do not marry soon.

For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry. (ll. 15-6)

The image of "prime," being the paramount of age and affections, Herrick says, will undoubtedly be lost. The question is will the virgins have heeded his advice or will they "forever tarry," a state in which the girls, for the rest of their days, will suffer from loneliness and abandonment. The choice is left up to the individual.

Herrick brings across his idea of carpe diem in a very understandable way. The images used were easily comprehended. The poem was even comical in certain lines. His advice is very typical of a charismatic man who easily can manipulate words in his favor. One illustration that came across from this poem was one of entertainment, and not surprisingly mostly on the behalf of men. I can imagine the laughter this poem would draw by men given in a bar room setting pre-embarkment of "charming" women into becoming potential spouses. Yet, the message does have a serious light in that time should not be taken for granted. Something that one may possess today, such as beauty or youthfulness, will eventually subside to old age. Experience things while they are still fresh and untouched for later on one may regret in not doing so. This is universal advice that should be heeded.

WORKS CITED

Rollin, Roger B., Robert Herrick, Revised Edition, (New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992) 83-84.