The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd

by Walter Raleigh

Poem

Genres: Poetry, Classics, School, Read For School

Unknown Binding

About the author

Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c.1552 - 1618), was a famed English writer, poet, soldier, courtier, and explorer.

Raleigh was born to a Protestant family in Devon, the son of Walter Raleigh and Catherine Champernowne. Little is known for certain of his early life, though he spent some time in Ireland, in Killua Castle, Clonmellon, County Westmeath, taking part in the suppression of rebellions and participating in two infamous massacres at Rathlin Island and Smerwick, later becoming a landlord of lands confiscated from the Irish. He rose rapidly in Queen Elizabeth I's favour, being knighted in 1585, and was involved in the early English colonisation of the New World in Virginia under a royal patent. In 1591 he secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, without requesting the Queen's permission, for which he and his wife were sent to the Tower of London. After his release, they retired to his estate at Sherborne, Dorset.

In 1594 Raleigh heard of a "City of Gold" in South America and sailed to find it, publishing an exaggerated account of his experiences in a book that contributed to the legend of El Dorado. After Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, Raleigh was again imprisoned in the Tower, this time for allegedly being involved in the Main Plot against King James I, who was not favourably disposed toward him. In 1616, however, he was released in order to conduct a second expedition in search of El Dorado. This was unsuccessful and the Spanish outpost at San Thomé was ransacked by men under his command. After his return to England he was arrested and, after a show trial held mainly to appease the Spanish after Raleigh's attack of San Thomé, he was beheaded at Whitehall.

Reviews

[Sadia Mansoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every Shepherd’s tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move,
To live with thee, and be thy love.

Time drives the flocks from field to fold,
When Rivers rage and Rocks grow cold,
And Philomel becometh dumb,
The rest complains of cares to come.

The flowers do fade, and wanton fields,
To wayward winter reckoning yields,
A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
Is fancy’s spring, but sorrow’s fall.

Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of Roses,
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten:
In folly ripe, in reason rotten.

Thy belt of straw and Ivy buds,
The Coral clasps and amber studs,
All these in me no means can move
To come to thee and be thy love.

But could youth last, and love still breed,
Had joys no date, nor age no need,
Then these delights my mind might move
To live with thee, and be thy love.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most beautiful response to one of the most romantic love poems in the English language. Who knew that Sir Walter Raleigh was such a poet?

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this better after reading The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. The Nymph’s reply is necessary or at least I find it satisfying. The Shepherd is young and passionate, but youth fades; passion might fade. Another fun lens is the mentality of a is nymph/supernatural mentality

And then to learn this poem leads to another: Raleigh Was Right by William Carlos Williams.

This feels like an Anne Fadiman essay moment.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite poems💘

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone cold ice queen. An inspiration.

[Deborah Koprick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I could read this poem everyday and not get sick of it

But could youth last and love still breed,
Had joys no date nor age no need,
Then these delights my mind might move
To live with thee and be thy love.

[Will Ian Cutura · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, I would like to thank Walter Raleigh for deconstructing the unrealistic promises made in Marlowe's poem. Through his response, the persona in Raleigh’s poem, the nymph, emerges as a voice of reason and realism, standing in contrast to the idealism of the shepherd in Marlowe’s work. By refusing the offer, the nymph represents those who are grounded in reality and not easily swayed by romanticized visions of love and material pleasure. Her response is both clever and insightful, pointing out that all the beautiful things the shepherd promises are fleeting. Time, she argues, will eventually bring decay to all earthly possessions. The flowers will wither, the garments will fade, and the songs will be forgotten. In doing so, Raleigh’s persona challenges the idea that love can be built on temporary pleasures and offers a more sobering, perhaps even wiser, perspective on what truly lasts.

[Ceciley Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this poem so much. I read The Passionate Shepherd to His Love and The Nymphs Reply in college, and they’ve stuck with me.

If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every Shepherd’s tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move,
To live with thee, and be thy love.

[Will Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful messages that were portrayed.

I was particularly interested in the romance portrayed. The shepherd tried valiantly to seduce the nymph and it was certainly poetic. The shepherd never acknowledged the nymph's feelings and tried to shower with the riches that he already obtained.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does love last forever?
Found poem at: famouspoetsandpoems.com

[Sophie Carbone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this response! They go together perfectly. Making fun of romantic poetry with poetry, very fun.

[Lecy Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my preference over Marlowe's Passionate Shepherd. I didn't know Raleigh was such a romantic, but I should have figured, given those collars.

[Gremlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate the poetry section of my lit class

[J9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poem about love and a nymph's response to the shepherd about said love. Alas, the nymph feels there is no point as flowers fade and time drives flocks from the field.

[Franciny · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In folly ripe, in reason rotten."

[Macy Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my British Literature class

[Mélanie Fléchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first sight a romantic and idle poem. Yet, it is a profound inquiring about love's true nature: whether it can surpass and go beyond that initial superficiality rooted in youth and beauty to be able to establish a deep bond contingent on true quintessential shared values.
I would also like to emphasise the fact that this reflection is made by the nymph, aka the female in the relationship, - according to the title -, suggesting the depth of one's love largely is a female concern.

[Faithreading18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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