To Sir Robert Carr by John Donne (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

To Sir Robert Carr

by John Donne

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

To Sir Robert Carr

I

What thy soul dictates to thy tongue,

Thy tongue commits to law and fire;

Where such a harmony belongs,

They can’t be false who thus conspire.

Wise and obedient thou dost move

By rule, framed by the voice of love.

 

II

So in obedience to thy will,

(Which is to me a law as strong

As that which doth the spheres distil

And guides their heavenly dance along),

I offer to thy noble view

What I have thought, and what I do.

 

III

Though private, I am no recluse,

Nor do I envy to aspire;

My thoughts to virtuous ends I use,

Not to a throne or stately hire.

This makes me turn my face from kings,

And look on Truth and lower things.

 

IV

Thou know’st, great Sir, how love hath made

A world within me, and a sea,

Where tempests sometimes do invade

My calm, and kill all peace in me;

But this thy hand can re-inspire,

And make calm life and chaste desire.

 

V

Thou art not partial, and I see

Thy heart, as open as thy hand;

Thou scorn’st the slave that seeks to be

By prayers and tears at thy command.

Thy favours do not drop from fear,

Nor is thy love the hireling’s cheer.

 

VI

Yet such I am; but will not grieve

To find thee kind to worthier men:

My hope is such as dreams deceive,

And I must rest content till then—

Till Time, and Truth, and Friendship raise

Me up to thee in better days.

 

Summary

Stanza I Summary

Donne opens the poem by praising Sir Robert Carr’s integrity and consistency. He admires how Carr’s words and actions are aligned—what his soul believes, his tongue speaks, and his actions follow through with sincerity and conviction. Donne sees this as a form of perfect harmony and truth.

 

Stanza II Summary

Donne says he is obeying Carr’s wishes by writing this poem. Carr’s desire holds authority over Donne, like a natural or divine law. This stanza introduces the idea that Donne’s offering—his thoughts in verse—is made out of loyalty and friendship.

 

Stanza III Summary

Here, Donne explains that although he is a private person, he is not completely withdrawn from the world. He is not ambitious for wealth or power, and he does not envy the grandeur of kings. Instead, he focuses his life on virtue and truth.

 

Stanza IV Summary

Donne tells Carr that love has stirred up deep emotions within him, like a stormy sea. These emotional storms sometimes disturb his peace. However, Carr’s support and friendship have the power to calm these inner tempests and restore his sense of purity and peace.

 

Stanza V Summary

Donne praises Carr’s sense of justice and openness. Carr is generous and kind, but not because he is manipulated by flattery or begging. He does not reward false devotion; rather, he values honesty and genuine character.

 

Stanza VI Summary

In the final stanza, Donne acknowledges his own unworthiness and modest position. He accepts that Carr may favor others who are more deserving. Still, Donne holds on to hope that, in time, truth and friendship will elevate him to a better standing where he may be seen as worthy of Carr’s favor.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Stanza I

What thy soul dictates to thy tongue,

→ Whatever your heart and conscience tell you, you speak out.

 

Thy tongue commits to law and fire;

→ What you say becomes a firm rule or passionate truth.

 

Where such a harmony belongs,

→ In a person with such consistency between thought and speech,

 

They can’t be false who thus conspire.

→ Such people can’t be dishonest; they are truly sincere.

 

Wise and obedient thou dost move

→ You act wisely and with faithful obedience.

 

By rule, framed by the voice of love.

→ Your actions are guided by loving principles.

 

Stanza II

So in obedience to thy will,

→ Therefore, because you asked me,

 

(Which is to me a law as strong

→ And your request is as binding to me

 

As that which doth the spheres distil

→ As the laws that make the stars move in the sky,

 

And guides their heavenly dance along),

→ Which cause the heavenly bodies to follow their paths,

 

I offer to thy noble view

→ I humbly present to you

 

What I have thought, and what I do.

→ My personal thoughts and actions.

 

Stanza III

Though private, I am no recluse,

→ I may live a quiet life, but I’m not antisocial or cut off.

 

Nor do I envy to aspire;

→ I don’t crave success or high positions.

 

My thoughts to virtuous ends I use,

→ I direct my thoughts toward good and noble goals,

 

Not to a throne or stately hire.

→ Not toward gaining power or wealth.

 

This makes me turn my face from kings,

→ That’s why I don’t seek the company of royalty,

 

And look on Truth and lower things.

→ I focus instead on truth and simpler matters.

 

Stanza IV

Thou know’st, great Sir, how love hath made

→ You know, noble sir, that love has affected me deeply,

 

A world within me, and a sea,

→ Filling my heart with vast emotions like a whole world or ocean.

 

Where tempests sometimes do invade

→ Sometimes emotional storms disturb that inner world,

 

My calm, and kill all peace in me;

→ Taking away my peace and calmness.

 

But this thy hand can re-inspire,

→ But your support can restore my peace,

 

And make calm life and chaste desire.

→ And bring back a peaceful, pure way of living and loving.

 

Stanza V

Thou art not partial, and I see

→ You are fair and impartial, I observe that clearly,

 

Thy heart, as open as thy hand;

→ Your heart is as generous and open as your giving hand.

 

Thou scorn’st the slave that seeks to be

→ You despise those who beg and flatter just to gain favor,

 

By prayers and tears at thy command.

→ And who try to win you over by pleading and crying.

 

Thy favours do not drop from fear,

→ You don’t give favors out of fear or obligation,

 

Nor is thy love the hireling’s cheer.

→ And your love is not a reward for servitude or flattery.

 

Stanza VI

Yet such I am; but will not grieve

→ Still, I admit I am like that (unworthy), but I won’t be upset

 

To find thee kind to worthier men:

→ If you are kind to others who deserve it more.

 

My hope is such as dreams deceive,

→ My hopes may be unrealistic, like a dream that misleads.

 

And I must rest content till then—

→ So I must be patient and content for now—

 

Till Time, and Truth, and Friendship raise

→ Until time, truth, and our friendship eventually lift me

 

Me up to thee in better days.

→ To be worthy of your company in the future.

 

Analysis in Detail

John Donne wrote this poem as a verse epistle, or poetic letter, addressed to Sir Robert Carr, a prominent courtier and favorite of King James I. The poem reflects a mixture of personal humility, admiration, philosophical reflection, and emotional openness, revealing Donne’s inner character and his approach to friendship, favor, and truth. Unlike many who sought political favor through flattery, Donne presents himself as sincere and modest, yet hopeful that friendship and virtue will ultimately raise him in esteem.

 

Tone and Voice

The tone throughout the poem is respectful, contemplative, and emotionally intimate. Donne strikes a balance between humility and confidence, never pleading for favor but revealing a deeply personal connection and admiration for Carr. He uses first-person narration with direct address, which lends the poem a conversational and honest quality, as though Donne is speaking heart-to-heart.

 

Themes

1. Integrity and Harmony Between Speech and Action

In the opening stanza, Donne praises Carr for his consistency of soul, speech, and action. This harmony becomes an ideal of moral and spiritual integrity. Donne values a man whose inner convictions match his outward expressions—a rare quality in political or courtly settings.

 

2. Obedience and Friendship

Donne suggests that Carr's wishes are as binding as the laws of nature, not out of fear but through loyalty and mutual respect. His willingness to obey is rooted in affection and esteem, not in servility.

 

3. Rejection of Worldly Ambition

A key theme is Donne’s disdain for worldly power and ambition. He presents himself as someone who does not chase thrones or rewards, but prefers the company of truth, virtue, and introspection. This self-portrait stands in contrast to typical court flatterers and sycophants.

 

4. The Inner Turmoil of Love

Donne admits to inner conflict caused by emotional storms, particularly from love. The metaphor of a sea or tempest represents his struggle for peace. Yet, Carr’s support can restore calm, indicating the power of friendship and moral encouragement to steady the soul.

 

5. Praise of Just Character

Donne honors Carr’s justice and generosity, praising him for being fair, open-hearted, and immune to manipulation. Carr is portrayed as someone who gives based on merit, not on flattery or pressure—traits Donne deeply admires.

 

6. Hope and Self-Awareness

The final stanza shows Donne’s honest self-awareness of his current status and limitations. He acknowledges that he may not be as worthy as others, but he holds on to hope—that time, truth, and friendship will eventually raise him to the level where he may be deemed worthy of Carr’s full regard.

 

Poetic Devices and Style

1. Metaphor

Donne employs rich metaphors—for example, comparing Carr’s influence to laws that guide the stars, and describing his emotions as a stormy sea. These metaphors heighten the emotional and philosophical depth of the poem.

 

2. Personification

Abstract concepts like Truth, Time, and Friendship are treated as agents that can lift a man’s position, showing Donne’s trust in these eternal forces over political patronage.

 

3. Alliteration and Sound

Donne uses euphonic language and sound patterns to reinforce the musicality of the verse—an essential element in verse epistles meant to be read aloud.

 

4. Balance and Contrast

There is a strong sense of balance between opposites—public vs. private life, action vs. contemplation, ambition vs. contentment—which reflects Donne’s philosophical nature and tendency toward dialectical thinking.

 

Character of the Speaker

The speaker (Donne himself) comes across as philosophical, sincere, and introspective, someone who is not motivated by shallow praise or flattery. He presents himself as emotionally vulnerable but morally grounded. There’s an underlying stoicism and faith in truth and friendship, even if his current circumstances are humble.

 

Conclusion

"The Verse Letter: To Sir Robert Carr" is not just a letter of praise but a personal statement of values. It reflects Donne’s belief in truth over power, love over ambition, and character over status. Through its heartfelt tone and thoughtful reflections, the poem demonstrates Donne’s skill at combining intellect with emotion, making it a powerful expression of personal integrity, hope, and the enduring value of virtuous friendship.