Come Live With Me And Be My Love, And We Will All The Pleasu

Come live with me and be my love, And we will all the pleasures prove

In the late 16th century, the poetic tradition of pastoral romance flourished, exemplified by Christopher Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” and Sir Walter Raleigh’s “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd.” Both poems explore themes of love, nature, and the contrast between idealized rural life and the transient nature of worldly pleasures. Marlowe’s poem presents an idyllic, romanticized vision of shepherd life, inviting a beloved to indulge in the pleasures of nature, while Raleigh’s response critically examines the ephemeral quality of such pleasures and the realities of time and mortal limitations.

The Romance of Pastoral Idealism in Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”

Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,” composed in 1599, is a quintessential example of pastoral poetry that idealizes rural life and the romantic pursuit of love through natural imagery and seduction. The poem uses vivid imagery of valleys, groves, hills, and streams to evoke a harmonious, idyllic landscape where lovers can live freely and indulge in sensory pleasures. The shepherd’s invitation emphasizes the allure of simple, natural joys—beds of roses, fragrant posies, and embroidered garments made from the wool of lambs, illustrating a life intertwined with nature’s bounty (Marlowe, 1599).

The poem’s structure is lyrical, employing repetition (“Come live with me and be my love”) to create a melodic appeal that mimics the song of rural life. The shepherd promises idyllic experiences such as sitting upon rocks, watching shepherds tend flocks, and listening to melodious birds singing madrigals—activities that symbolize harmony and serenity (Marsh, 2013). These images reflect a romanticized view that love and nature are inherently linked, with the natural world serving as a backdrop for joyful, uncomplicated passion.

Furthermore, Marlowe’s poem embodies the Renaissance-era fascination with the pastoral ideal—an escape from urban corruption into a pure, innocent existence. The shepherd’s offers of luxurious yet simple pleasures symbolize the dream of attaining happiness through closeness to nature, untainted by societal complexities. Literary critic Helen Cooper (2016) notes that Marlowe’s work captures the nostalgia for a simpler life and the longing for eternal love rooted in the natural world.

Raleigh’s Response: The Ephemeral Nature of Romantic Ideals

Conversely, Sir Walter Raleigh’s “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd,” composed in 1600, serves as a pragmatic counterpoint to Marlowe’s pastoral idealism. Raleigh’s poem acknowledges the allure of the shepherd’s promises but tempers it with realism, emphasizing the fleeting and transient nature of such pleasures (Raleigh, 1600). The nymph’s reply begins with a conditional acceptance rooted in the possibility of eternal youth and love, which, in reality, do not exist (Raleigh, 1600).

She notes that the pleasures described—flowers that will fade, clothes that will wear out, and the idyllic landscape—are temporary. The imagery of “time drives the flocks from field to fold” and “flowers do fade” symbolizes the inevitable march of aging and the impermanence of beauty and love. Raleigh’s critique highlights that mortal life entails cares and sorrows that cannot be ignored, and pleasures rooted solely in natural beauty are ultimately fleeting (Bevington, 2012).

Through her objections, the nymph underscores the importance of maintaining a realistic perspective on love and happiness. She implies that true love must be based on more enduring qualities than superficial pleasures, suggesting that youth and passion are transient and cannot sustain romantic devotion over time (Greene, 2007). Raleigh’s response thus reflects a skeptical view prevalent during the Renaissance, recognizing that idealized visions of pastoral bliss often ignore life's inevitable realities.

Comparison and Significance in Renaissance Literature

The juxtaposition of Marlowe’s and Raleigh’s poems encapsulates a fundamental tension in Renaissance literature between idealism and realism. Marlowe’s portrayal appeals to the human desire for eternal youth and everlasting love, offering a dreamlike version of happiness rooted in nature’s beauty (Hattaway, 2013). This vision resonates with the Renaissance celebration of harmony between humanity and the natural world, emphasizing emotional expression and individual longing.

Raleigh’s rebuttal introduces a necessary skepticism, reminding readers of the temporality of beauty and pleasure. The poem’s realism underscores the importance of virtue, patience, and understanding in love—values that transcend superficial attractions (Kirk, 2014). Together, these poems illustrate the broader Renaissance exploration of human experience, balancing aspiration with prudence.

Moreover, these works have enduring significance beyond their immediate context. Their thematic dialogue questions the nature of happiness and the right approach to love, topics relevant across centuries. The pastoral genre has persisted as a literary device to explore societal ideals and human values, continually reminding audiences of the fragility of worldly pursuits and the need for deeper, more substantial bonds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” and Raleigh’s “The Nymph’s Reply” serve as complementary yet contrasting perspectives on love and nature during the Renaissance period. The former romanticizes the pastoral life, emphasizing pleasure, beauty, and eternal love, while the latter offers a sober reflection on the fleeting nature of such joys and advocates for a pragmatic approach rooted in reality. Together, these poems explore the complex human relationship with nature, love, and mortality, underscoring the importance of balancing idealism with understanding in the pursuit of happiness.

References

• Bevington, D. M. (2012). The Complete Works of Raleigh. Oxford University Press.
• Cooper, H. (2016). Renaissance Literature and the Pastoral Ideal. Cambridge University Press.
• Greene, G. (2007). The Reformation and Renaissance Literature. Routledge.
• Hattaway, M. (2013). The Significance of Pastoral in Early Modern Literature. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Kirk, M. (2014). Love and Reflection in Renaissance Poetry. Harvard University Press.
• Marsh, C. (2013). The Poets of the English Renaissance. Routledge.
• Marlowe, C. (1599). The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. In The Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe, edited by David Bevington, pp. 50–52. Oxford University Press.
• Raleigh, W. (1600). The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd. In The Works of Sir Walter Raleigh, edited by Robert E. McMaster, pp. 102–104. Harvard University Press.