By: Ryan McMullin

Sir John Suckling was born in Whitton on February 10 th, His mother died when he was four years old His father was appointed Comptroller (which means financial manager) of James I's household in Suckling enrolled at Trinity College in 1623 and left without getting a degree in Suckling inherited estates on his father's death in 1626, and was admitted to Gray's Inn in Eighteen years old, he pursued a military and ambassadorial career, and joined the English soldiers serving in the army of Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years' War. Suckling was knighted in September He returned to the English court in May, 1632, where he became very popular through his wealth and charm. He was known as a gamester, and is credited with having invented the game of cribbage. In 1637, Suckling wrote the prose work Account of Religion by Reason. His play, Aglaura, was published in 1638 and performed for Charles I. The play had two alternate endings, one tragic and one happy. It was not a critical success, but it introduced the poem "Why so pale and wan, fond lover?“ In the same year, Suckling's comedy The Goblins was published. It was much influenced by Shakespeare's The Tempest and is generally thought to be Suckling's best work. In 1639, Suckling recruited and equipped cavalry to help King Charles I in his Scottish war. He was ridiculed in London for the troops' scarlet uniforms and plumed hats, but he was well-favored by the King. He died in Paris a in 1642, either from suicide by poison, or, as another tradition has it, by the hand of a servant who placed a razor in his boot.

Why so pale and wan, fond lover? Prithee, why so pale? Will, when looking well can't move her, Looking ill prevail? Prithee, why so pale? Why so dull and mute, young sinner? Prithee, why so mute? Will, when speaking well can't win her, Saying nothing do't? Prithee, why so mute? Quit, quit, for shame, this will not move: This cannot take her. If of herself she cannot love, Nothing can make her: The devil take her! Why so Pale and Wan?

When, Dearest, I But Think of Thee When, dearest I but think of thee, Methinks all things that lovely be Are present, and my soul delighted: For beauties that from worth arise Are like the grace of deities, Still present with us, tho’ unsighted. Thus while I sit and sigh the day With all his borrow’d lights away, Till night’s black wings do overtake me, Thinking on thee, thy beauties then, As sudden lights do sleepy men, So they by their bright rays awake me. Thus absence dies, and dying proves No absence can subsist with loves That do partake of fair perfection: Since in the darkest night they may By love’s quick motion find a way To see each other by reflection. The waving sea can with each flood Bathe some high promont that hath stood Far from the main up in the river: O think not then but love can do As much! for that’s an ocean too, Which flows not every day, but ever!

In this poem ‘When, Dearest, I But Think of Thee,’ by John Suckling the author is describing a love he has with a maiden lady. He describes the many ways in which he sees his love for her and how it will never die. Three lines which contain effective imagery are (Are like the grace of deities,) Suckling uses a historical illusion in this line when he mentions deities, which mean gods. (Till night’s black wings do overtake me,), in this line the author is trying to describe how the darkness overcomes him an uses black wings to describe the darkness of the night. (Thinking on thee, thy beauties then,), Suckling uses alliteration in this line with the words thinking, thee, thy, and then. The theme for this poem is ‘love’ and possibly how he feels about one special person. It is very obvious he can only focus on his feelings and on the beauty of a young lady. This is obvious as he states he can think of nothing else but her, even in his sleep and his thoughts are like a river that never stops flowing. I like this poem very much because of the way he describes the night and sea and uses them as a metaphor. Analysis of ‘When, Dearest, I But Think of Thee’

I prithee send me back my heart, Since I cannot have thine; For if from yours you will not part, Why then shouldst thou have mine? Yet now I think on't, let it lie, To find it were in vain; For th'hast a thief in either eye Would steal it back again. Why should two hearts in one breast lie, And yet not lodge together? O love, where is thy sympathy, If thus our breasts thou sever? But love is such a mystery, I cannot find it out; For when I think I'm best resolv'd, I then am most in doubt. Then farewell care, and farewell woe, I will no longer pine; For I'll believe I have her heart As much as she hath mine. I Prithee, Send me Back my Heart. 3.Do you think the young maiden Suckling is talking to feels the same for him as he does for her? 1.What is the theme of ‘I Prithee, Send me Back my Heart?’? 2. Where does Suckling use imagery in the poem?