The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

The speaker exhibits unfailing love and devotion toward their lover, focusing on the merriment, joy, and excitement the romance offers. The speaker seems blinded by love, and they make lofty promises despite not having adequate means to provide for the significant other. The speaker evokes nature’s riches and elements from the landscape with which they are familiar. They promise they will make the significant other a “bed of Roses” (Line 9) with “a thousand fragrant posies” (Line 10). Roses symbolize romance, passion, and beauty. Posies symbolize love and dedication. They also symbolize joy. By offering these to the significant other, the speaker promises joy, romance, and passion to the significant other.

The speaker’s devotion and attention to nature transfers to the significant other. The speaker parallels the pleasures derived from nature with the pleasure of loving the significant other. They use words like “Melodious” (Line 8) and “fragrant” (Line 10), which make the romantic experience sensuous. To reiterate their devotion, the speaker also promises riches, including a “gown made of the finest wool” (Line 13). The speaker states, “Come live with me and be my love” (Line 1, Line 20). The