Poet · Metaphysical
Andrew Marvell
English poet · 1621–1678
To His Coy MistressThe Garden
Andrew Marvell spent twenty years as Member of Parliament for Hull and published almost none of his poetry while he lived. Three years after his death, his housekeeper — claiming to be his widow — brought out Miscellaneous Poems (1681), and in it was "To His Coy Mistress," the wittiest carpe diem argument in English: "Had we but world enough, and time."
Marvell was also assistant to the blind John Milton in Cromwell's government, and after the Restoration he used his political weight to help keep Milton from the gallows — arguably saving Paradise Lost before it was written.
5 poems by Andrew Marvell
Full text, free to read — all in the public domain.
- Music's EmpireFirst was the world as one great cymbal made,…24 lines
- The Picture Of Little T.C. In A Prospect Of FlowersSee with what simplicity…40 lines
- Tom May's DeathAs one put drunk into the Packet-boat,…100 lines
- Upon The Hill And Grove At Bill-borowTo the Lord Fairfax.…81 lines
- To His Coy MistressHad we but World enough, and Time,…46 lines