Andrew
Marvell, the son of a vicar, was born at Winestead-in-Holderness,
in 1621. When he was a child the family moved to Hull
and Marvell attended the local grammar school. In 1633 Marvell went
to Trinity College, Cambridge.
After leaving
university Marvell toured Europe visiting Holland, France, Italy and
Spain. Although he spent most of the
Civil War out
of the country he was a strong supporter of Parliament and in 1650
he wrote a poem praising Oliver
Cromwell,
Horatian Ode Upon Cromwell's Return from
Ireland.
Marvel
also worked as tutor to the children of Sir
Thomas Fairfax. His poem, Upon
Appleton House, celebrated the retirement of Fairfax from
the world of public affairs.
With the
help of his friend, John Milton, Marvell
became Assistant Latin Secretary to the Council of State in 1657.
Two years later he was elected to the House
of Commons where he represented Hull.
After the
Restoration
Marvell
was an outspoken critic of the government of Charles
II.
Marvell was especially opposed to its failure to promote religious
toleration. During this period he spent much of his time living in
Russia, Sweden and Denmark.
Marvell
wrote several political and religious satires such as Clarindon's
Housewarming, The Last Instructions
to a Painter, The Loyal Scot,
The Statue in Stocks-Market and
The Rehearsal Transposed. However,
because of his radical views, little of his work was published in
his lifetime. Marvell's attack on the monarchy, Account
of the Growth of Popery and Arbitrary Government, was published
anonymously.
Andrew
Marvell died of tertian ague in 1678. Three years later his book,
Miscellaneous Poems, was published.
This included Marvell's most famous work, the love poem
To His Coy Mistress. This was followed by Poems
on Affairs of State (1689).
(1)
Andrew
Marvell, Captain of the Commonwealth (1655)
Such was that wondrous
order and consent,
When Cromwell tuned the
ruling instrument;
While tedious statesmen
many years did hack,
Framing a liberty that
still went back;
Whose numerous gorge could
swallow in an hour
That island, which the
sea cannot devour:
Then our amphion issues
out and sings,
And once he struck, and
twice, the powerful strings.
The Commonwealth then
first together came,
And each one entered in
the willing frame;
All other Matter yields,
and may be ruled;
But who the minds of stubborn
men can build?
No Quarry bears a Stone
so hardly wrought,
Nor with such labour from
its centre brought;
None to be sunk in the
foundation bends,
Each in the house the
highest place contends,
And each the hand that
lays him will direct,
And some fall back upon
the architect;
Yet all composed by his
attractive song,
Into the animated city
throng.
The Commonwealth does
through their centres all
Draw the Circumference
of the public wall;
The grossest spirits here
do take their part,
Fastening the contignation
which they thwart;
And they, whose nature
leads them to divide,
Uphold, this one, and that
the other side;
But the most equal still
sustain the height,
And they as pillars keep
the work upright;
While the resistance of
opposed minds,
The fabric as with arches
stronger binds,
Which on the basis of a
Senate free,
Knit by the roofs protecting
weight agree.
When for his foot he thus
a place had found,
He hurls ever since the
world about him round;
And in his several aspects,
like a star,
And in their numbered footsteps
humbly tread
The path where holy oracles
do lead;
How might they under such
a captain raise,
The great designs kept
for the latter days!
(2)
Andrew
Marvell, letter to a friend (1671)
The King having, upon pretence
of the great preparations of his neighbours, demanded three hundred
thousand pounds for his navy, (though in conclusion he hath not sent
out any) and that the Parliament should pay his debts, which the ministers
would never particularize to the House of Commons, our house gave
several bills. You see how far things were stretched beyond reason,
there being no satisfaction how these debts were contracted, and all
men foreseeing that what was given would not be applied to discharge
the debts, which I hear are at this day risen to four millions.
Nevertheless, such was
the number of the constant courtiers, increased by the apostate patriots,
who were bought off for that turn, some at six, others at ten, one
at fifteen thousand pounds, in money; besides which, offices, lands,
and reversions to others, that it is a mercy they gave not away the
whole land and liberty of England. The Duke of Buckingham is again
one hundred and forty thousand pounds in debt, and, by this prorogation,
his creditors have time to tear all his lands in pieces. The House
of Commons have run almost to the end of their time, and are grown
extremely chargeable to the King, and odious to the people. They have
signed and sealed ten thousand pounds a-year more to the Duchess of
Cleveland, who has likewise ten thousand pounds out of the excise
of beer and ale; five thousand pounds a year out of the post-office;
and, they say, the reversion of all the king's leases, the reversion
of all the places in the Customhouse, and, indeed, what not? All promotions,
spiritual and temporal, pass under her cognizance.
(3)
Andrew Marvell, Account of the Growth of Popery and Arbitrary Government
in England (1678)
Whatsoever casual good
hath been wrought at any time by the assimilation of ambitious, factious,
and disappointed members, to the little, but solid, and unbiased party,
the more frequent ill effects, and consequences of so unequal a mixture,
so long continued, are demonstrable and apparent. For while scarce
any man comes thither with respect to the public service, but in design
to make and raise his fortune, it is not to be expressed, the debauchery
and lewdness, which, upon occasion of election to Parliaments, are
now grown habitual throw the nation. So that the vice, and the expense,
are risen to such a prodigious height, that few sober men can endure
to stand to be chosen on such conditions. From whence also arise feuds,
and perpetual animosities, over most of the counties and corporations,
while gentlemen of worth, spirit and ancient estates and dependences,
see themselves over-powered in their own neighbourhood by the drunkness
and bribery of their competitors. But if nevertheless any worthy person
chance to carry
the election, some mercenary or corrupt sheriff makes a double return,
and so the cause is handed to the Committee of elections, who ask
no better, but are ready to adopt his adversary into the House if
he be not legitimate. And if the gentleman aggrieved seek his remedy
against the sheriff of Westminster Hall, and the proofs be so palpable,
that the
King's Bench cannot invent how to do him injustice, yet the major
part of the twelve judges shall upon better consideration vacate the
sheriff's fine, and reverse the judgement; but those of them that
dare dissent from their brethren are in danger to be turned off the
bench without any cause assigned. While men therefore care not thus
how they get into the House of Commons, neither can it be expected
that they should make any conscience of what they do there, but they
are only intent how to reimburse themselves (if their elections were
at their own charge) or how to bargain their votes for a place or
a pension. They list themselves straightway s into some Court faction,
and it is as well known among them, to what Lord each of them retain,
as when formerly they wore coats and badges. By this long haunting
so together they are grown too so familiar among themselves, that
all reverence of their own Assembly is lost, that they live together
not like Parliament men, but like so many good fellows met together
in a public house to make merry. And which is yet worse, by being
so thoroughly acquainted, they understand their number and party,
so that the use of so public a counsel is frustrated, there is no
place for deliberation, no persuading by reason, but they can see
one another's votes through both throats and cravats before they hear
them.
(4)
Andrew Marvell, To His Coy Mistress (1681)
Had we but world enough,
and time,
This coyness, Lady, were no crime
We would sit down and think which way
To walk and pass our long love's day.
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shouldst rubies find: I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood,
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow;
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, Lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always
hear
Time's winged chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found,
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song: then worms shall try
That long preserved virginity,
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust:
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none, I think, do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may,
And now, like amorous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour
Than languish in his slow-chapt power.
Let us roll all our strength and all
Our sweetness up into one ball,
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life:
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
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