The Perfume by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions)

 

The Perfume

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase, Analysis & Questions) 

The Perfume

Once, and but once found in thy company,

All thy supposèd escapes are laid on me;

And as a thief at bar is questioned there

By all the men that have been robbed that year,

So am I (by this traiterous means surprised)

By thy hydroptic father catechized.

Though he had wont to search with glazed eyes,

As though he came to kill a cockatrice,

Though he hath oft sworn that he would remove

Thy beauty’s beauty, and let me not love,

And though he hath inveigled thee to go

Where thou scarce canst be less than one of two,

Yet he thought it too much that I should stay

As a groom, watching the horses of the day.

But when he had spied perfumes in thy glove,

And found that sweet which he had smelled from above,

He starts not, burns not with a brutish flame,

But mild and rational, bids me disclaim

All right to thee, and throws thy glove away.

But who shall lay

Blame on me? For thou art mine; I sent thee that

Perfume, which did then cheer thee, and thou smelt’st

It as thy gift; and though thou give me leave

To wear it at court, yet if it be stolen,

It is mine. Can I then be guilty of theft?

 

Summary

The speaker begins by explaining that he has only once been in the company of the woman he loves, but that single meeting has led to him being blamed for all her supposed secret actions or misdeeds. He compares himself to a thief being interrogated in court, accused of every crime committed that year—not necessarily because he is guilty, but because he’s a convenient target.

He says that her father, whom he calls "hydroptic" (suggesting he’s bloated with suspicion or sickness), interrogates him suspiciously. The father, who used to search around with glassy, searching eyes like someone hunting a mythical creature (cockatrice), has already sworn to destroy her beauty to prevent the speaker from loving her.

Though her father has tried to remove her from him by making her go to places where she is likely to be surrounded by people (thus preventing intimacy), he still finds it unacceptable that the speaker should even be near her, even in a passive or distant role, like a groom waiting with the horses in the daylight.

The turning point comes when her father smells perfume on her glove. Recognizing the scent from above (perhaps when she passed by), he does not react with wild anger but rather with a calm and reasoned demeanor. He tells the speaker to give up any claim to the woman and throws away her glove, a symbolic gesture of rejection or severance.

In the final lines, the speaker justifies himself. He says that the perfume was from him—it was his gift to her. She had accepted it, and it had once brought her joy. Even if she allowed him to wear it at court (symbolically meaning to enjoy the love or presence), and someone else takes it or finds it, it still belongs to him. So, he concludes by questioning how he can be accused of theft when what is being called "stolen" was originally his own.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

1. Once, and but once found in thy company,

I was caught with you just one time, only once,

 

2. All thy supposèd escapes are laid on me;

Yet now I’m being blamed for all your alleged secret meetings.

 

3. And as a thief at bar is questioned there

Like a thief on trial is questioned in court,

 

4. By all the men that have been robbed that year,

And every robbery victim accuses him,

 

5. So am I (by this traiterous means surprised)

So I too, surprised by this betrayal,

 

6. By thy hydroptic father catechized.

Am being interrogated by your suspicious, bloated (figuratively sick) father.

 

7. Though he had wont to search with glazed eyes,

Though he used to inspect things with dull, unseeing eyes,

 

8. As though he came to kill a cockatrice,

As if he were hunting some dangerous mythical creature (like a cockatrice),

 

9. Though he hath oft sworn that he would remove

Even though he has often sworn

 

10. Thy beauty’s beauty, and let me not love,

To destroy your charms so I can’t love you,

 

11. And though he hath inveigled thee to go

And even though he tricked you into going

 

12. Where thou scarce canst be less than one of two,

To a place where you’re never alone—there’s always at least one other person,

 

13. Yet he thought it too much that I should stay

Still, he thought it too much for me

 

14. As a groom, watching the horses of the day.

Even to wait quietly nearby, like a servant looking after horses.

 

15. But when he had spied perfumes in thy glove,

But when he noticed the scent of perfume in your glove,

 

16. And found that sweet which he had smelled from above,

And recognized the pleasant smell he had detected earlier (from a distance),

 

17. He starts not, burns not with a brutish flame,

He didn’t get furious or react violently like an animal,

 

18. But mild and rational, bids me disclaim

Instead, calmly and logically, he told me to renounce

 

19. All right to thee, and throws thy glove away.

Any claim I had to you, and threw your glove away.

 

20. But who shall lay

But who can accuse

 

21. Blame on me? For thou art mine; I sent thee that

Me of wrongdoing? You belong to me—I gave you that perfume,

 

22. Perfume, which did then cheer thee, and thou smelt’st

That same perfume which once made you happy, and which you smelled

 

23. It as thy gift; and though thou give me leave

As your own gift; and though you allowed me

 

24. To wear it at court, yet if it be stolen,

To enjoy it openly (perhaps publicly or socially), if someone else took it,

 

25. It is mine. Can I then be guilty of theft?

It still belongs to me. So how can I be guilty of stealing it?

 

Analysis in Detail

Overview

John Donne’s “Elegy: The Perfume” is a witty, ironic, and subtly rebellious love poem where the speaker defends himself against accusations of seduction, secrecy, and possibly immorality. Written in Donne’s distinctive metaphysical style, the poem blends sensual imagery with legal and religious references, exploring themes of love, possession, guilt, surveillance, and freedom.

 

Tone and Speaker

The tone is clever, mocking, and defiant, yet controlled. The speaker adopts a rational tone to refute the charges placed against him by the woman’s suspicious father. He portrays himself as both wrongfully accused and cleverly innocent, using wit and irony to assert his emotional and even moral rights over his beloved.

The speaker is clearly a lover who feels entitled to the woman’s affection and expresses frustration at the constraints imposed on their relationship by her father and societal expectations. He resents being scrutinized and judged, yet he calmly and cleverly defends his actions.

 

Structure and Form

The poem is written in rhymed couplets, a common form in Donne’s elegies, which gives it a rhythmic and persuasive flow. The steady meter and rhyme reinforce the speaker’s confident, reasoned argument. The logical structure of the poem mirrors a courtroom defense—Donne builds his case methodically.

 

Themes

1. Love as Possession

The speaker repeatedly claims the woman as “mine”, emphasizing not only emotional attachment but also a sense of ownership. His argument about the perfume being his property symbolizes the idea that the woman’s affection (or physical token) belongs to him because he gave it.

 

2. Surveillance and Interrogation

The poem deals heavily with the theme of being watched and judged. The father is portrayed almost like a state authority or inquisitor, conducting a moral investigation. The speaker uses legal metaphors: he’s like a thief being blamed for all wrongs committed in the area, interrogated and penalized unfairly.

 

3. Innocence and Guilt

Though he is accused of wrongdoing, the speaker makes a case for his innocence by cleverly twisting logic: if the perfume was his gift, and the girl wore it, how can he be guilty if it was noticed? The idea of perceived guilt versus actual guilt is explored through irony and rhetorical questioning.

 

4. Power and Patriarchy

The father is a symbol of patriarchal control—a man who seeks to suppress love and beauty, using surveillance and moral authority. The daughter is moved around like a chess piece, kept constantly in company so she can't be alone, especially with the speaker. Yet, despite these measures, the lover's influence persists through something intangible—scent.

 

5. Sensory Imagery

The perfume itself is a central symbol—it represents intimacy, memory, and presence. It is a physical yet invisible connection between the two lovers. Even though the father tries to suppress their relationship, the scent (a metaphor for their love or encounter) betrays them.

 

Symbolism

Perfume: A powerful symbol of presence, love, sensual memory. It lingers even when the lover is absent and betrays secrets. It also suggests something intangible yet revealing, like love or guilt.

Glove: A personal item, possibly romantic in the courtly tradition. Throwing it away symbolizes rejection or breaking ties.

Court and Trial Imagery: The lover likens himself to a criminal tried unfairly. This imagery helps Donne critique how society imposes judgments on private emotions.

Irony and Wit

Much of the poem’s strength comes from irony. The speaker plays with the idea of being guilty when, in fact, he argues he only gave a gift and was caught up unfairly. His final defense—that the perfume was his, so it cannot be stolen—is a masterstroke of logical irony, mocking moralistic accusations with clever legal reasoning.

 

Language and Diction

Donne uses a mix of intellectual, legal, and sensual language. Words like “catechized,” “disclaim,” and “groom” sit alongside emotional or physical references like “beauty’s beauty” and “perfume.” This blend reflects Donne’s metaphysical style: combining abstract reasoning with physical experience.

 

Conclusion

“Elegy: The Perfume” is a rich, layered poem where Donne critiques social surveillance and moral judgment while celebrating the power of love and physical memory. The poem is not just a defense of a lover—it is a satire on parental control, a tribute to private love, and a celebration of intellectual rebellion against conventional norms.

 

Possible Exam Questions

What is the speaker accused of in “Elegy: The Perfume”?

 

Who is the "hydroptic father" referred to in the poem? What does this description imply?

 

How does Donne use the image of perfume symbolically in the poem?

 

What is the significance of the glove in the poem?

 

Explain the comparison between the speaker and a thief at bar.

 

What tone does the speaker adopt while defending himself?

 

What role does irony play in “Elegy: The Perfume”?

 

Why does the speaker believe he cannot be guilty of theft?

 

Examine the theme of surveillance and judgment in “Elegy: The Perfume.”

 

How does Donne use metaphysical wit and logic to defend the speaker’s love?

 

Discuss how John Donne blends sensuality with intellectual argument in the poem.

 

Analyze the relationship between the speaker and the woman's father in the context of control and rebellion.

 

Explore the symbolic significance of perfume in Donne’s elegy. How does it function within the narrative?

 

Critically appreciate “Elegy: The Perfume” with reference to Donne’s metaphysical style.

 

Evaluate how Donne uses legal and sensory imagery to portray love and accusation in “Elegy: The Perfume.”

 

“Though the poem is about love, it is also about power and possession.” Discuss with reference to the text.

 

Comment on Donne’s portrayal of a forbidden or hidden love in “Elegy: The Perfume.”

 

How does “Elegy: The Perfume” reflect the tension between private passion and public morality?