Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"When Thou Didst Think I Did Not Love" is a poem written by Robert Ayton, a Scottish poet of the 17th century. The poem explores the theme of love, its fluctuations, and the speaker's response to changing affections.

The poem begins with a contrast in the speaker's love for the addressed person. In the past, when the addressee believed the speaker did not love, they were infatuated and obsessed with the speaker. However, now that the addressee realizes the speaker's genuine and unwavering love, their own affection begins to fade. The speaker remarks that love dies within the addressee.

The second stanza introduces the idea of the speaker's response to the addressee's changing feelings. The speaker contemplates whether it would be prudent to ignite jealousy and insecurity within the addressee. They consider the possibility of becoming unkind or unloving, believing it could be a strategic approach to regain the addressee's affection. The speaker recognizes the fickleness of the addressee's mind and contemplates mirroring that behavior.

In the following stanza, the speaker rejects the idea of compromising their own good nature to win back the addressee's love. They weigh the potential cost of turning unkind against the love they had once attained. The speaker acknowledges that what they had previously gained from the addressee is almost lost, implying that the addressee's love has diminished.

The speaker then discusses their refusal to follow the example of others who might have turned unfaithful in similar situations. They express a commitment to constancy, vowing to remain faithful even if the addressee acts in a fickle manner. The speaker asserts that while the addressee may behave like a woman who changes from friend to foe, men, like the speaker, do not act in the same way.

The final lines of the poem convey the speaker's unwavering devotion. The speaker declares that since they once gave their heart to the addressee, their constancy will prove their love. They emphasize that even if the addressee changes their stance and becomes an enemy, the speaker will remain steadfast.

The poem's structure is simple and concise, consisting of four quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme. Ayton employs straightforward language and a direct tone to convey the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The poem highlights the speaker's commitment to constancy and challenges the addressee's fickleness and wavering affections.

Overall, "When Thou Didst Think I Did Not Love" explores the complexities of love, loyalty, and the response to changing affections. It portrays the speaker's determination to remain faithful in the face of the addressee's shifting emotions, ultimately emphasizing the speaker's unwavering love and constancy.

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