Prothalamion by E. Spenser, a spausal verse a poem of elizabethan era - piyush prashant

prothalmion by Edmund spenser
a rare poem
Prothalamion, the commonly used name of Prothalamion; or, A Spousall Verse in Honour of the Double Marriage of Ladie Elizabeth and Ladie Katherine Somerset,[1] is a poem by Edmund Spenser (1552–1599), one of the important poets of the Tudor Period in England. Published in 1596[1] (see 1596 in poetry), it is a nuptial song that he composed that year on the occasion of the twin marriage of the daughters of the Earl of Worcester; Elizabeth Somerset and Katherine Somerset.

Prothalamion is written in the conventional form of a marriage song. The poem begins with a description of the River Thames where Spenser finds two beautiful maidens. The poet proceeds to praise them and wishing them all the blessings for their marriages. The poem begins with a fine description of the day when on which he is writing the poem. "Calm was the day and through the trembling air/The sweet breathing Zephyrus did softly play." The poet is standing near the Thames River and finds a group of nymphs with baskets collecting flowers for the new brides. The poet tells us that they are happily making the bridal crowns for Elizabeth and Katherine. He goes on his poem describing two swans at the Thames, relating it to the myth of Jove and Leda. According to the myth, Jove falls in love with Leda and comes to court her in the guise of a beautiful swan. The poet feels that the Thames has done justice to his nuptial song by "flowing softly" according to his request: "Sweet Thames run softly till I end my song." The poem is often grouped with Spenser's poem about his own marriage, the Epithalamion.

1. Welcome you all

2. The discussion of English literature - Piyush Prashant M.a. ( Eng lit.) CUSB

3. Topic for our discourse prothalamion

4. The age of Renaissance Renaissance means revival/rebirth of the ancient Greek & Roman literature,mythology and culture.

5. Renaissance : focus on human life on earth, While in Middle ages the focus was on religion and after life Increased interest in art,literature , Nature & human impulses

6. Golden age of English Literature Less religious tension Strong political system Economic prosperity Zest for sci. observation & discovery Education reformation

7. Edmund Spenser (1552 – 1599) Princes of poets of his time A learned man well versed In lit. & mythology of Greece and Rome

8. Second father of English poetry P oet`s P oet- by Charles L amb He believed that Poet was a creater like God,poetry is a divine gift and Poetry is the language of God.

9. Characteristics of his poetry A perfect melody A rare sense of beauty A splendid imagination Variety in sub,style & thought A dedicated idealism

10. Important works The Shepheards`calendar Complaints Colin clout`s come home again Astrophel

11. Amoretti Epithalmion Prothalmion Four Hymns A View of Present State of Ireland

12. Introduction to Prothalamion (1596) Spousal verse Celebrates wedlock of twin sisters Lady Catherine – Henry Gilford Lady Catherine –William peter

13. Modelled on Epithalamion Perfect blend of mythology and realism An attempt to win patronage / favour of Queen Elizabeth Use of metaphor,similies,rhyme,imagery a nd aesthetics language to express emotion

14. Use of artistic imagery & natural beauty Mystical creatures as metaphor Refelect transparency and classical image C.S.Lewis -interesting as they are in themselves,they donot seem to contribute m uch to thetotal effect

15. Two themes - Celebration of lady going to their betrothal Personal (loss of patron & neglected merit) Cleverly contrived poem Good balance between contrast tone

16. Style Stanzas follow Italian C anzone Poem is mix of ten syllabic and six syllabic lines; fourteen of the former And four of later in each stanza

17. Rhyme - abbaacdcddeefeffgg Poet himself is narrator Use of continuous thought

18. CALME was the day, and through the trembling ayre   Sweete -breathing Zephyrus did softly play  A gentle spirit, that lightly did delay  Hot Titans beames , which then did glyster fayre ;  When I, (whom sullein care,  Through discontent of my long fruitlesse stay  In Princes Court, and expectation vayne   Of idle hopes, which still doe fly away,  Like empty shaddowes , did afflict my brayne ,)   Walkt forth to ease my payne   Along the shoare of silver streaming Themmes ;  Whose rutty Bancke , the which his River hemmes ,  Was paynted all with variable flowers,   And all the meades adornd with daintie gemmes   Fit to decke maydens bowres ,  And crowne their Paramours  Against the Brydale day, which is not long:             Sweete Themmes ! runne softly, till I end my Song.  refrain Idealistic view

19. Opening is peaceful & idealistic Last line symbolizes life on Earth to be s teady in order to be able to listen to eternal song. . Poem starts in the morning & ends at night Marriage date – 8 nov;Accession -17 nov

20. There, in a Meadow, by the Rivers side,  A Flocke of Nymphes I chaunced to espy,  All lovely Daughters of the Flood thereby,  With goodly greenish locks, all loose untyde ,  As each had bene a Bryde ;  And each one had a little wicker basket,  Made of fine twigs, entrayl`d curiously,  In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket,  And with fine Fingers cropt full feateously   The tender stalkes on hye .  Of every sort, which in that Meadow grew,  They gathered some; the Violet, pallid blew,  The little Dazie , that at evening closes,  The virgin Lillie, and the Primrose trew ,  With store of vermeil Roses,  To decke their Bridegromes posies  Against the Brydale day, which was not long:            Sweete Themmes ! runne softly, till I end my Song. virginity Hope & nourishment in life

21. With that I saw two Swannes of goodly hewe   Come softly swimming downe along the Lee;  Two fairer Birds I yet did never see;  The snow, which doth the top of Pindus strew,  Did never whiter shew ;  Nor Jove himselfe , when he a Swan would be,  For love of Leda, whiter did appeare ;  Yet Leda was (they say) as white as he,  Yet not so white as these, nor nothing neare ;  So purely white they were,  That even the gentle streame , the which them bare,  Seem'd foule to them, and bad his billowes spare  To wet their silken feathers, least they might  Soyle their fayre plumes with water not so fayre ,  And marre their beauties bright,  That shone as heavens light,  Against their Brydale day, which was not long:            Sweete Themmes ! runne softly, till I end my Song.

22. Progress of brides by boat from Somerset House to E ssex house Contrast between purity of swan and Impurity of water represents the spiritual and Physical aspect of love & his idealism and Social observation

23. Eftsoones the Nymphes , which now had Flowers their fill,  Ran all in haste to see that silver brood,  As they came floating on the Christal Flood;  Whom when they sawe , they stood amazed still,  Their wondring eyes to fill;  Them seem'd they never saw a sight so fayre ,  Of Fowles , so lovely, that they sure did deeme   Them heavenly borne, or to be that same payre   Which through the Skie draw Venus silver Teeme ;  For sure they did not seeme   To be begot of any earthly Seede ,  But rather Angels, or of Angels breede ;  Yet were they bred of Somers-heat, they say,  In sweetest Season, when each Flower and weede   The earth did fresh aray ;  So fresh they seem'd as day,  Even as their Brydale day, which was not long:            Sweete Themmes ! runne softly, till I end my Song

24. Swans are usually assigned to drawing the chariot of Venus, the goddess of love. The white lilies are matched to the purity or virginity of the nymphs. The association of flowers and weeds represents fruition and lust.

25. Then forth they all out of their baskets drew  Great store of Flowers, the honour of the field,  That to the sense did fragrant odours yield,  All which upon those goodly Birds they threw  And all the Waves did strew,  That like old Peneus Waters they did seeme ,  When downe along by pleasant Tempes shore,  Scattred with Flowres , through Thessaly they streeme ,  That they appeare , through Lillies plenteous store,  Like a Brydes Chamber flore .  Two of those Nymphes , meane while, two Garlands bound  Of freshest Flowres which in that Mead they found,  The which presenting all in trim Array,  Their snowie Foreheads therewithall they crownd ,  Whil'st one did sing this Lay,  Prepar'd against that Day,  Against their Brydale day, which was not long:            Sweete Themmes ! runne softly, till I end my Song. 

26. The nymphs throw flowers over the river Thames and birds The river looks like the bridal chamber adorned with flowers. Thames exactly looked like the Peneus , the river of ancient fame flowing along the Tempe and the Thessalian valley.

27. 'Ye gentle Birdes ! the worlds faire ornament,  And heavens glorie , whom this happie hower   Doth leade unto your lovers blisfull bower,  Joy may you have, and gentle hearts content  Of your loves couplement ;  And let faire Venus, that is Queene of love,  With her heart-quelling Sonne upon you smile,  Whose smile, they say, hath vertue to remove  All Loves dislike, and friendships faultie guile  For ever to assoile .  Let endlesse Peace your steadfast hearts accord,  And blessed Plentie wait upon your bord ;  And let your bed with pleasures chast abound,  That fruitfull issue may to you afford,  Which may your foes confound,  And make your joyes redound  Upon your Brydale day, which is not long:            Sweete Themmes ! runne softlie , till I end my Song.' 

28. Songs of nymph mesmerizes with an enchanting musical effect. Spenser wishes the couple live forever with swans contented heart and eternal bliss as these birds are the wonder of heaven. He prays to Cupid and venus to bless the couple with love and care lest they be safe from deceit and dislike.

29. The poet-speaker’s songs, handling successfully themes about time, beauty, virtue passion, fruition, and social responsibility, all topographically considered from his river, demonstrates the union of real and ideal which Spenser so passionately and eloquently hoped for in all areas of human life.