Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "To Philaster," Sarah Fyge Egerton addresses a lover who has been unfaithful, expressing her disappointment and condemnation. The poem is a powerful critique of Philaster's betrayal and a reflection on the unique joy of their past relationship. Through sharp wit and poignant imagery, Egerton explores themes of infidelity, lost love, and the irreplaceable nature of first experiences.

The poem begins with a direct command to Philaster: "Go, perjured youth, and court what nymph you please." The term "perjured" immediately establishes Philaster as a deceitful and untrustworthy lover. Egerton dismisses his current passion as "but a dull disease," suggesting that his newfound affection lacks the vitality of their past love.

Philaster's romantic overtures are described as "worn-out sighs," implying that his gestures are now insincere and repetitive. He uses them to "deceive some listening ear," targeting a woman who "longs to know how 'tis and what men swear." The poem satirizes this woman as a "Poor cozened fool" who cannot know the "charms / Of being first encircled in thy arms." This highlights the speaker's pride in being Philaster's first love, emphasizing the innocence and joy of their initial relationship.

The speaker reminisces about the time when Philaster's "charms did then with native sweetness flow" and contrasts this with his current "forced-kind complaisance." His present behavior is dismissed as a "false, agreeable design," lacking the innocence and genuineness that characterized their past love. The speaker declares that Philaster "had innocence when you were mine, / And all your words, and smiles, and looks divine."

Egerton employs vivid imagery to express her disdain for Philaster's new lover: "How proud, methinks, thy mistress does appear / In sullied clothes, which I'd no longer wear." The metaphor of "sullied clothes" suggests that the new mistress is wearing something secondhand and inferior. Her bosom is adorned with "withered flowers," which "lost their sweets in my first-chosen breast." This implies that Philaster's new lover receives only the remnants of the love he once gave to the speaker.

In the concluding lines, Egerton denounces Philaster as a "Perjured, imposing youth," urging him to "cheat who you will." She acknowledges that he can "Supply defect of truth with amorous skill," but ultimately finds his efforts lacking: "Yet thy address must needs insipid be, / For the first ardour of thy soul was all / possessed by me." Here, she emphasizes that the passion and sincerity of his first love can never be replicated, making his current attempts at romance inherently dull.

The poem is written in rhymed couplets with lines in iambic pentameter, creating a rhythmic and structured flow that underscores the clarity of the speaker's condemnation. The consistent rhyme scheme enhances the impact of her critique and reinforces her authoritative tone.

In "To Philaster," Sarah Fyge Egerton offers a poignant and scathing response to a faithless lover. By contrasting the innocence and joy of their past relationship with the insincerity of his current love, Egerton highlights the irreplaceable nature of first experiences and the unique connection they shared. The poem is a powerful exploration of lost love, betrayal, and the enduring pride of being the first to capture someone's heart. Through vivid imagery and sharp wit, Egerton crafts a timeless critique of infidelity and the superficiality of new romances that lack the depth of genuine affection.

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