Since the dawn of written history people have been compelled to record their notion of love in the form of novels and poems. Most of these writings and poems describe apassionate love; a love based on desire, lust, and intense spiritual contentment. There are,however, poems which reflects the more accurate and logical aspect of love and devotion.These distinctly antipodal points of view can be observed in two famous poems;Christopher Marlowes The Passionate Shepherd to His Love and Sir Walter RaleighsThe Nymphs Reply to the Shepherd. Christopher Marlowes poem emulates the passionate and idealistic regard manypeople harbor on love. That is-- love is based on a profound and deep emotion and willendure because of the vastness of the emotion. This is conveyed through the speaker inthe poem, who is a common shepherd wanting his object of affection to marry him.Come live with me and be my love, and we will all the pleasures prove that hills andvalleys, dales and fields, or wood or steepy mountain yield. The shepherd tells his lovethat all of the needs in life they will find in their love and in nature. The modest shepherdgoes on to tell of the wonderful, yet simplistic, items and treasures he will bestow on hislove, if she will have him. And I will make thee beds of roses and a thousand fragrantposies; a cap of flowers, and a kirtle embroidered all with the leaves of myrtle. To theshepherd there is nothing more important than his love, and he is willing to live a pureand meager life for he knows that his richness comes from love, not financial wealth.While Christopher Marlowes poem resonates fervent love, Sir Walter Raleighspoem reflects a logical and realistic view on love. A Nymph, the speaker of the poem,tells the shepherd that more than love is needed in life to be happy and his views of loveare only valid in an idealistic world. If all of the world and love were young, and truth inevery shepherds tongue, these pretty pleasure might me...
