Love’s Usury by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

Love’s Usury

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

Love’s Usury

For every hour that thou wilt spare me now,

I will allow,

Usurious god of love, twenty to thee,

When with my brown, my grey hairs equal be;

Till then, Love, let my body reign, and let

Me travel, sojourn, snatch, plot, have, forget,

Resume my last year's relicts; think that yet

We’d never met.

Let me think any rival’s letter mine,

And at next nine

Keep midnight’s promise; mistake by the way

The maid, and tell the lady of that delay;

Only let me love none, no, not the sport;

From country grass to comfitures of court,

Or cities’ quelquechoses, let report

My mind transport.

This bargain’s good; if when I’m old, I be

Inflamed by thee,

If thine own honour, or my shame and pain,

Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gain.

Do thy will then, then subject and degree,

And fruit of love, Love, I submit to thee.

Spare me till then; I’ll bear it, though she be

One that loves me.

 

Summary

The speaker addresses Love (personified as a god) and proposes a bargain. He asks that Love spare him for now—that is, not demand serious, consuming love from him at this point in his life. In exchange, he promises that when he grows old and his hair turns gray, he will repay Love with interest—offering twenty hours of love for every hour spared now.

While he is still young, he wants the freedom to enjoy love casually and physically, without deep commitment. He wishes to travel, flirt, pursue women, forget past lovers, and rekindle old affairs—experiencing all kinds of romantic encounters without being bound by true or serious love. He wants the liberty to make mistakes, to confuse one lover’s letter for another’s, or to keep late-night promises even if made in error.

He only asks for one restriction: that he not fall in love seriously—not even with the pleasure of love itself. He wants to move freely from rustic country girls to refined ladies at court, or even to flirtatious women in cities, letting gossip and talk carry his name and experiences around.

The speaker concludes by saying that the bargain is fair: when he becomes old, if Love still stirs him with desire—whether for Love's own glory or to make the speaker suffer shame and pain—he will then submit completely. At that time, he will allow Love to rule over him, his emotions, his social status, and his actions. Until then, he pleads with Love to let him live freely.

 

Line-by-line paraphrase

1. For every hour that thou wilt spare me now,

→ For every hour you (Love) leave me alone now,

 

2. I will allow,

→ I promise to give back,

 

3. Usurious god of love, twenty to thee,

→ O you greedy, interest-charging god of love, I’ll repay you twenty times over,

 

4. When with my brown, my grey hairs equal be;

→ When my brown hair is mixed with grey—when I grow old.

 

5. Till then, Love, let my body reign, and let

→ Until then, Love, let my body be in control, and allow me to

 

6. Me travel, sojourn, snatch, plot, have, forget,

→ Travel around, stay in different places, take lovers quickly, make plans, have affairs, and forget them.

 

7. Resume my last year’s relicts; think that yet

→ Go back to past relationships from the previous year; imagine I haven’t even met them yet.

 

8. We’d never met.

→ Pretend I’m meeting them for the first time.

 

9. Let me think any rival’s letter mine,

→ Let me believe that even a love letter meant for someone else was written for me,

 

10. And at next nine

→ And at the next meeting time (like 9 o’clock),

 

11. Keep midnight’s promise; mistake by the way

→ Let me keep a late-night promise even if it was made in confusion,

 

12. The maid, and tell the lady of that delay;

→ Mistake the maid for the lady, and give the wrong excuse for being late.

 

13. Only let me love none, no, not the sport;

→ Just don’t let me fall in love with anyone—not even with the act or thrill of loving.

 

14. From country grass to comfitures of court,

→ From simple country girls to the refined ladies of the royal court,

 

15. Or cities’ quelquechoses, let report

→ Or the flirtatious women of the cities, let gossip or stories

 

16. My mind transport.

→ Carry my mind and reputation around from one to another.

 

17. This bargain’s good; if when I’m old, I be

→ This is a fair deal: if, when I’m old, I still feel love,

 

18. Inflamed by thee,

→ And you, Love, still make me passionate,

 

19. If thine own honour, or my shame and pain,

→ If you seek either your own honor or my humiliation and suffering,

 

20. Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gain.

→ Whatever you desire—your fame or my pain—you can have it then, when I’m old.

 

21. Do thy will then, then subject and degree,

→ Then do as you please; take over my will, my status, and emotions,

 

22. And fruit of love, Love, I submit to thee.

→ And take the results of love (its joys or sorrows); I’ll give myself to you, Love.

 

23. Spare me till then; I’ll bear it, though she be

→ Just spare me until then; I’ll endure your rule later, even if the woman

 

24. One that loves me.

→ Is one who truly loves me.

 

Analysis in Detail

Title: "Love’s Usury"

The title itself is key to understanding the central theme of the poem. "Usury" refers to the practice of charging interest on a loan, often excessively. Donne applies this economic term to romantic love, suggesting that Love, as a god, behaves like a greedy lender, demanding more than what is fair. This sets the tone for a negotiation between the speaker and Love.

 

Tone and Voice:

The tone is witty, bold, and slightly rebellious. The speaker addresses Love directly, as though making a legal or financial bargain. He isn’t meek or submissive; instead, he’s clever and assertive, seeking freedom from the emotional seriousness of love while he is still young. The voice is unmistakably masculine and worldly, aware of the games of love and pleasure, and willing to participate—but only on his own terms.

 

Structure and Style:

The poem is written in iambic pentameter and follows a 24-line format, structured as a single stanza. The style is characteristic of John Donne’s metaphysical poetry—full of wit, argument, and extended metaphors (in this case, love as a financial loan). The use of legal and economic language—“allow,” “usurious,” “bargain,” “submit,”—creates a blend of intellect and passion.

 

Themes:

1. Temporal vs. Eternal Love:

The speaker wants to postpone true love until he grows old. While young, he seeks the pleasures of love without the burdens of emotional commitment. This suggests a clear distinction between youthful indulgence and mature devotion, and raises the question: Is love meant to be fleeting or eternal?

 

2. Freedom vs. Submission:

There’s a strong tension between freedom and submission in the poem. The speaker desires the freedom to pursue casual love now but promises full submission to Love later. This duality reflects human nature’s desire for both independence and intimacy—but on one’s own terms.

 

3. Love as Transaction:

By turning love into a kind of business deal, Donne cleverly critiques the idea of romantic relationships that come with expectations and demands. The speaker treats Love like a moneylender: asking for a loan of freedom now, promising interest in the future. This idea underlines how love can feel transactional, especially when it involves societal expectations and emotional costs.

 

Imagery and Language:

Donne uses vivid, playful, and varied imagery:

“Travel, sojourn, snatch, plot, have, forget” — these verbs reflect restlessness and desire for romantic adventures.

“From country grass to comfitures of court” — suggests a range of lovers from rustic to refined, emphasizing variety and sensual pleasure.

“Usurious god of love” — portrays Love not as gentle or divine, but as demanding and greedy.

There is also irony in how the speaker asks not even to fall in love with "the sport" (the game of love), even while indulging in it. It’s a clever way of asking to enjoy love’s pleasures without being caught emotionally.

 

The Speaker’s Bargain:

The speaker proposes a deal: Let me be free now, and I’ll repay you in full later when I’m too old for adventures. This reflects both the clever manipulation of Love and a realistic acknowledgment of aging. It’s not just a joke—it also shows a man who is aware that youth doesn’t last, and one day, he will be ready to give himself over to something deeper.

 

Final Lines – Submission in Old Age:

In the closing lines, the speaker accepts that he will eventually be under Love’s power—possibly when he is too old to resist. He even says he’ll endure it “though she be / One that loves me”—a somewhat cynical or reluctant acknowledgment that true love may come, and he’ll accept it, even if it’s no longer thrilling.

 

Conclusion:

"Love’s Usury" is a clever and provocative poem that uses economic metaphor to express a young man’s desire to enjoy love on his own terms. It captures the tension between youthful pleasure and emotional responsibility, between freedom and commitment, and ultimately between bodily desire and spiritual or emotional connection. Donne’s wit, intellectual playfulness, and mastery of metaphor are fully on display, making this poem both amusing and deeply reflective.

 

Possible Exam Questions

 

🔹 Short Answer / Comprehension Questions

What is the speaker asking Love to do in the opening lines of Love’s Usury?

 

Why does the speaker refer to Love as a “usurious god”?

 

What kind of lifestyle does the speaker wish to enjoy in his youth?

 

What condition does the speaker place on his romantic freedom?

 

What does the speaker promise to do when he grows old?

 

What does the phrase “country grass to comfitures of court” suggest about the speaker’s view on love?

 

How does the poem reflect the tension between youth and old age?

 

🔹 Long Answer / Analytical Questions

Discuss the central argument made by the speaker in Love’s Usury.

 

How does Donne use economic imagery to talk about love in the poem?

 

Analyze the tone of the speaker in Love’s Usury. How does it reflect his attitude toward love?

 

In what ways does Love’s Usury illustrate the characteristics of metaphysical poetry?

 

Explain how Donne blends wit and seriousness in the poem.

 

How does the poem reflect the contrast between freedom and submission in matters of love?

 

Comment on the use of irony in Love’s Usury. How does it serve the speaker’s message?

 

🔹 Critical Thinking / Thematic Essay Questions

“Donne presents love as a calculated bargain.” Do you agree? Justify your answer with reference to Love’s Usury.

 

Examine the speaker’s view of youthful love and compare it with his expectations of love in old age.

 

Is the speaker’s proposal to Love selfish or honest? Discuss.

 

Compare the treatment of time and aging in Love’s Usury with any other poem by Donne or from the same period.

 

How does the poem explore the human desire to delay emotional vulnerability?