In “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,” Marlowe presents an idealized portrayal of nature, conveniently ignoring any real-life dangers. In this dreamlike existence, there are no responsibilities; the shepherd imagines the couple watching other “shepherds feed their flocks,” without acknowledging his own flock for which he is responsible. Additionally, there's no mention of wolves or other predators that might threaten the sheep.

The shepherd invites his beloved to enjoy all the pleasures of rural life in May. The notion of lying in “beds of roses” suggests outdoor lovemaking, without any cover. However, these “beds of roses” would likely be filled with thorns, which could certainly curb the shepherd’s enthusiasm. Today, the average temperature in England in May is around 59 degrees Fahrenheit, with rain on roughly half the days. It's likely that the weather was similar in Marlowe’s time, making outdoor activities quite damp and chilly. Nights would be even colder, especially in the “hills,” the shade of the “woods,” or at higher elevations on a “steepy mountain.”

The shepherd also promises to provide his beloved with “a gown made of the finest wool,” which he would “pull” from “pretty lambs.” Adult sheep can weigh between 150 and 200 pounds, and even a lamb old enough to be sheared would be quite heavy. The task of shearing a lamb with the tools available at the time would have been challenging, let alone “pulling” the wool by hand.

Another vow the shepherd makes is that “the shepherd swains shall dance and sing / For thy delight each May morning.” Given the need to guard sheep from predators, shear lambs, and move the flock to fresh pastures, along with the often unpleasant weather, shepherds would hardly have time to dance and sing for the lady’s entertainment every morning. Although the shepherd is keen to dress his mistress in wool, he doesn’t consider feeding her. What will she eat? The shepherd never thinks about food, because in his fantasy world, sustenance is unnecessary. His courtship is a whimsical dream of a lover who seeks only to fulfill his desires without regard for life’s practicalities. Marlowe paints an enchanting picture of nature, but it is far removed from the harsh realities of a shepherd’s laborious and dangerous life.

“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” remains unchanged throughout, with no sense of time progression—there is no past or future in the story. The shepherd does not offer a long-term promise when he invites the woman to “come live with me, and be my love.” There is no talk of marriage or creating a home together. He vows to adorn his beloved with “a thousand fragrant posies,” yet once picked, these flowers will soon begin to fade. Within moments, they will start to wilt, their stems bending more with each passing second. The same fate awaits the “belt of straw and ivy-buds,” which will also quickly deteriorate after being crafted. The activities the shepherd describes are transient, existing solely in the present. It is some time in May, and he is not thinking about a future summer together or the inevitable onset of fall and winter. There is only the current moment they will experience together. Eventually, though, reality would intrude. They would need food to eat and a place to live, children might be born, and life would continue to evolve. The shepherd’s appeal lacks any recognition of the certainty of time passing and life transforming.

Marlowe’s “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” is a celebration of youth, innocence, love, and poetry. The poem participates in an ongoing tradition of lyrical...