The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd Group

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america1996
america1996

Can someone please explain the poem "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" by Sir Walter Raleigh?

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Posted by america1996 on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 9:05 PM and tagged with analysis, meaning, sir walter raleigh, the nymph's reply to the shepherd, the nymphs reply to the shepherd, themes.

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  1. kwoo1213 Teacher
    College - Junior

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    The nymph's reply to the shepherd is one that the shepherd does not want to hear.  She rejects him.  In her reply, she says that love is inconstant and that she does not believe that love is everlasting.  Because of this and because she clearly has trust issues, she rejects the shepherd.  In addition, she takes the shepherd's poem, point by point, and explains that the things that he wants to provide her with and show her will either die or change with time.  She ends the poem by saying that she cannot be moved to love him no matter what he promises her or says to her.  In the last stanza, she concludes this way:

    But could youth last and love still breed,
    Had joys no date nor age no need,
    Then these delights my mind might move
    To live with thee and be thy love. (eNotes)
    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/nymphs-reply/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/nymphs-reply/text-poem

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    Posted by kwoo1213 on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 11:45 PM