Analysis of Song

Sir John Suckling 1609 – 1642



Why so pale and wan fond lover?
    Prithee why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
    Looking ill prevail?
    Prithee why so pale?

Why so dull and mute young sinner?
    Prithee why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
    Saying nothing do't?
    Prithee why so mute?

Quit, quit for shame, this will not move,
    This cannot take her;
If of herself she will not love,
    Nothing can make her;
    The devil take her.


Scheme aBabB aCaxC xaxaa
Poetic Form Tetractys  (27%)
Metre 11101110 1111 11101110 10101 1111 11101110 1111 11101110 101011 1111 11111111 11010 11011111 10110 01010
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 441
Words 79
Sentences 10
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5
Lines Amount 15
Letters per line (avg) 21
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 104
Words per stanza (avg) 26
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 17, 2023

24 sec read
115

Sir John Suckling

Sir John Suckling was an English poet and one prominent figure among those renowned for careless gaiety wit and all the accomplishments of a Cavalier poet and also the inventor of the card game cribbage He is best known for his poem Ballad Upon a Wedding more…

All Sir John Suckling poems | Sir John Suckling Books

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