Love, a child, is ever crying
By Lady Mary Wroth
LOVE, a child, is ever crying;
Please him, and he straight is flying;
Give him, he the more is craving,
Never satisfied with having.His desires have no measure;
Endless folly is his treasure;
What he promiseth he breaketh;
Trust not one word that he speaketh.He vows nothing but false matter;
And to cozen you will flatter;
Let him gain the hand, he’ll leave you
And still glory to deceive you.He will triumph in your wailing;
And yet cause be of your failing:
These his virtues are, and slighter
Are his gifts, his favours lighter.Feathers are as firm in staying;
Wolves no fiercer in their preying;
As a child then, leave him crying;
Nor seek him so given to flying.
Summary of “Love, a child, is ever crying”
- Popularity of “Love, a child, is ever crying”: Lady Mary Wroth’s poem, “Love, a child, is ever crying,” is a striking piece from her sequence of sonnets, Pamphilia to Amphilanthus, published in 1621. It’s notable for its unconventional depiction of love, moving away from idealized portrayals to a rather cynical perspective.
- “Love, a child, is ever crying” as a Representative of Childlike Nature of Love: The poem centers around a powerful metaphor: love is likened to a demanding, insatiable child. Wroth argues that like a child, love is never content, constantly craving more, and incapable of true fulfillment. It promises much but delivers little, flattering only to manipulate and ultimately abandoning those who offer affection. This extended comparison reveals Wroth’s belief that love, in its purest form, is inherently self‑serving and unreliable.
- Major Themes in “Love, a child, is ever crying”: Three central themes run through the poem. Firstly, the fickleness and uncertainty of love is constantly emphasized. Secondly, the personification of love as a spoilt child is the dominant technique driving the poem’s meaning. Finally, the poem explores the destructive power of unrequited or manipulative affection. Wroth’s poem is a stark departure from the typical romantic poetry of her time, offering a critical and realistic perspective on the complexities of love.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Love, a child, is ever crying”
Literary devices are the tools writers use to enhance their work. Lady Mary Wroth skillfully employs several in this poem.
- Apostrophe: This device, directly addressing an absent entity, is evident in the poem’s opening line: “LOVE, a child, is ever crying.” Wroth directly addresses ‘Love’ as if it were a present, albeit demanding, child.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within close proximity creates a musical quality. For example, the repeated ‘e’ sound in “What he promiseth he breaketh” and the ‘i’ sound in “Are his gifts, his favours lighter” contribute to the poem’s rhythm and flow.
- Consonance: Similar to assonance, consonance focuses on the repetition of consonant sounds. Notice the ‘t’ and ‘r’ sounds in “Trust not one word that he speaketh” and the ‘r’ and ‘l’ sounds in “He will triumph in your wailing.” These sounds create a subtle emphasis and contribute to the poem’s texture.
- Enjambment: This technique involves the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause. The lines “And to cozen you will flatter;
Let him gain the hand, he’ll leave you
And still glory to deceive you” exemplify enjambment, creating a sense of momentum and emphasizing the relentless nature of love’s deceit. - Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect is evident in lines such as “His desires have no measure.” This hyperbolic statement emphasizes the insatiable nature of love, portraying it as an endless, unfulfilled craving.
- Imagery: Wroth uses vivid language to create mental images for the reader. Phrases like “Never satisfied with having,” “Endless folly is his treasure,” and “Let him gain the hand, he’ll leave you” evoke strong emotions and help the reader visualize the destructive power of love.
- Personification: Giving human qualities to an inanimate object or abstract concept is central to this poem. Love is portrayed as a child who cries, demands, and deceives. The line “He will triumph in your wailing” vividly personifies love as a malicious entity.
- Simile: A comparison using “like” or “as” is used in the poem’s closing stanza: “Feathers are as firm in staying;
Wolves no fiercer in their preying.” This extended simile emphasizes the strength and untamed nature of both feathers and wolves, contrasting them with the fickle and unpredictable nature of love. - Symbolism: Certain words and phrases carry symbolic weight. “Triumph” symbolizes love’s malicious joy in causing pain. “Fiercer” and “feather” symbolize contrasting qualities—strength and lightness—highlighting the paradoxical nature of love. “Desires” represent the endless craving that defines love.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Love, a child, is ever crying”
While literary devices are broad, poetic devices are specifically employed within poetry.
- End Rhyme: The poem relies heavily on end rhyme to create a musical and pleasing effect. Pairs like “crying/flying” and “craving/having” reinforce the poem’s rhythm and structure.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem consistently follows an AABB rhyme scheme throughout all five stanzas, creating a predictable and harmonious flow.
- Quatrain: The poem utilizes the quatrain, a four-line stanza borrowed from Persian poetry. This structured form provides a framework for Wroth’s critical exploration of love.
- Stanza: The poem is organized into five distinct stanzas, each containing four verses. This consistent structure provides a clear and organized presentation of Wroth’s argument.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “Love, a child, is ever crying” are particularly useful when discussing the untrustworthy nature of affection.
He will triumph in your wailing;
And yet cause be of your failing:
These his virtues are, and slighter
Are his gifts, his favours lighter.