Out of Catullus: Richard Crashaw

About the Poet – Richard Crashaw

· Richard Crashaw was a 17th-century Metaphysical poet.

· Born in 1613; died in 1649.

· Son of a strict Puritan preacher, but later converted to Roman Catholicism.

· Closely associated with the Metaphysical School of Poetry.

· His poetry is marked by intense emotion, sensuous imagery, musical language, and religious passion.

· Strongly influenced by classical poets (especially Catullus) and continental religious poetry.

· Known for blending sacred and secular themes.

· Major work: Steps to the Temple (1646).

· “Out of Catullus” shows his classical influence and carpe diem (seize the day) philosophy.

Prescribed Poem – Publication Details

· Poem Title: Out of Catullus

· Poet: Richard Crashaw

· Source: Adapted / Inspired by poems of the Roman poet Catullus

· Published: 1646

· Collection: Steps to the Temple

· Genre: Metaphysical / Love lyric

· Form: Lyric poem

· Theme: Love, youth, mortality, enjoyment of life

· Style: Musical, emotional, persuasive

· Philosophy: Carpe Diem (enjoy life before it is too late)

Poem Text

Come and let us live my Deare,
Let us love and never feare,
What the sowrest Fathers say:
Brightest Sol that dies to day
Lives againe as blithe to morrow,
But if we darke sons of sorrow
Set; o then, how long a Night
Shuts the Eyes of our short light!
Then let amorous kisses dwell
On our lips, begin and tell
A Thousand, and a Hundred, score
An Hundred, and a Thousand more,
Till another Thousand smother
That, and that wipe of another.
Thus at last when we have numbred
Many a Thousand, many a Hundred;
Wee’l confound the reckoning quite,
And lose our selves in wild delight:
While our joyes so multiply,
As shall mocke the envious eye.

Detailed Summary

Although written as a single flow of thought, the poem can be understood in three clear parts.

Part 1: Invitation to Love and Live Fully (Lines 1–8)

The poet lovingly invites his beloved to live freely and love without fear.
He advises ignoring the warnings of strict moralists (“sowrest Fathers”) who criticize love and pleasure.

He compares human life with the sun (Sol).
The sun sets every evening but rises again the next morning.
However, human beings, once dead, fall into a long, endless night.
Human life is short and fragile, unlike the sun.

👉 Meaning:
Since life is brief and death final, love should not be postponed.

Part 2: Celebration of Love and Kisses (Lines 9–14)

The poet urges the lovers to cover their lips with endless kisses.
He playfully suggests counting kisses—thousands and hundreds—but soon they should lose count.

The excessive counting shows the intensity and abundance of love.
Losing count also protects love from the “evil eye”—jealous or judgmental people.

👉 Meaning:
True love should be joyful, abundant, and free from social restrictions.

Part 3: Joy Beyond Calculation (Lines 15–18)

In the final lines, the poet says they should deliberately confuse the counting.
By doing so, they can lose themselves completely in passion and delight.
Their happiness will grow so much that it will mock envy and criticism.

👉 Meaning:
Love reaches perfection when lovers forget the world and social judgment.

Themes

1. Theme of Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)

The central theme of the poem is Carpe Diem, which means “seize the day” or enjoy life while you can. The poet urges his beloved to live joyfully and love freely without fear of death or moral restrictions. Life is short, and once it ends, there is no return. Therefore, the poet advises making the most of youth, love, and happiness.

The image of the sun rising again every day is used to contrast human life. The sun returns after setting, but human life ends forever. Hence, love must be enjoyed while life lasts.

2. Theme of Love and Sensual Pleasure

The poem strongly celebrates romantic and physical love. The poet invites his beloved to exchange countless kisses and enjoy love without hesitation. Love is presented as natural, joyful, and intense. The repeated counting of kisses suggests abundance, passion, and emotional excitement.

Crashaw presents love as a source of happiness that should not be restricted by social or religious fears.

3. Theme of Mortality and Shortness of Life

Another important theme is the brevity of human life. The poet reminds us that human life is short and fragile. Once a person dies, there is only eternal darkness. Unlike the sun, which rises again, human life does not return.

This awareness of death strengthens the urgency to love and enjoy life fully before it ends.

4. Theme of Defiance of Social and Moral Restrictions

The poet openly challenges the “sour fathers,” meaning strict moralists and religious authorities who discourage pleasure. He argues that such restrictions are unnecessary and unnatural. True happiness lies in love, not in fear or denial.

The poem therefore reflects a spirit of rebellion against rigid moral codes.

5. Theme of Joy and Celebration of Life

The poem celebrates joy, youth, love, and vitality. The lovers lose themselves in delight, forgetting calculations and social judgment. Their happiness becomes so great that it “mocks the envious eye.” Love is shown as a powerful force that conquers fear and sorrow.

STRUCTURE OF THE POEM

1. Form and Style

The poem is a lyric poem, expressing personal emotions and passion.
It is written in a light, musical, and flowing style, suitable for a love poem.

2. Rhyme Scheme

The poem follows a regular rhyming couplet pattern, which gives it a smooth and song-like quality.
This musical rhythm enhances the mood of joy and celebration.

3. Use of Metaphysical Conceit

Though not deeply philosophical, the poem uses a metaphysical comparison:

· The sun represents renewal

· Human life represents fragility

· Kisses represent love’s intensity

This comparison strengthens the central idea of enjoying life before death.

4. Repetition and Enumeration

The repeated counting of kisses—“a thousand, a hundred, a thousand more”—creates:

· Rhythm

· Passion

· A sense of abundance

It also symbolizes infinite love and emotional excitement.

5. Logical Progression of Thought

The poem moves in a clear sequence:

1. Invitation to love

2. Reminder of life’s shortness

3. Celebration of physical love

4. Rejection of moral fear

5. Final joy and emotional freedom

This logical flow makes the poem effective and memorable.

MCQs with Answers

1. Who wrote “Out of Catullus”?

a) Andrew Marvell
b) Richard Crashaw
c) John Donne
d) George Herbert
Answer: b) Richard Crashaw

2. The poem is inspired by which classical poet?

a) Homer
b) Virgil
c) Catullus
d) Ovid
Answer: c) Catullus

3. The central idea of the poem is—

a) Religious devotion
b) Fear of death
c) Enjoy love before death
d) Moral discipline
Answer: c) Enjoy love before death

4. “Brightest Sol” refers to—

a) God
b) Moon
c) Sun
d) Fire
Answer: c) Sun

5. What happens to humans after death according to the poem?

a) Rebirth
b) Eternal joy
c) Long night
d) Resurrection
Answer: c) Long night

6. What do “sowrest Fathers” symbolize?

a) Parents
b) Priests
c) Strict moral critics
d) Kings
Answer: c) Strict moral critics

7. The counting of kisses suggests—

a) Mathematics
b) Discipline
c) Abundance of love
d) Boredom
Answer: c) Abundance of love

8. Why should the reckoning be confused?

a) To avoid boredom
b) To escape envy and evil eye
c) To save time
d) To test memory
Answer: b) To escape envy and evil eye

9. The tone of the poem is—

a) Sad
b) Moralistic
c) Passionate and joyful
d) Angry
Answer: c) Passionate and joyful

10. The poem belongs to which tradition?

a) Romantic
b) Classical Epic
c) Metaphysical Love Lyric
d) Pastoral
Answer: c) Metaphysical Love Lyric

Short Answer Questions

1. Explain the carpe diem theme in “Out of Catullus.”

The poem expresses the philosophy of carpe diem, which means “seize the day.” The poet reminds us that human life is short and once lost, it never returns. Therefore, love and joy should be enjoyed fully without fear. Delaying happiness is foolish because death brings permanent darkness.

2. Why does the poet compare human life to the sun?

The poet compares human life to the sun to highlight the difference between nature and humanity. The sun sets every evening but rises again the next morning. Humans, however, once dead, fall into eternal night. This comparison emphasizes the urgency of enjoying life and love.

3. What is the significance of counting kisses?

Counting kisses symbolizes the abundance and intensity of love. It shows that love is limitless and joyful. Losing count suggests complete surrender to passion. It also protects love from jealousy and social judgment.

4. Who are the “sowrest Fathers,” and why are they rejected?

The “sowrest Fathers” represent strict moralists and religious preachers who condemn pleasure and love. The poet rejects their warnings because they deny natural human joy. He believes love should be lived freely, not suppressed by fear.

5. How does the poem celebrate love?

The poem celebrates love as passionate, joyful, and fearless. It encourages lovers to enjoy physical affection without shame. Love is presented as a powerful force that defeats fear, envy, and moral restrictions. It becomes the highest form of happiness.