The Impossibility of Undying Love - The Scrutiny
In the poem, the speaker attempts to explain to his beloved why he cannot stay with her but has to go out and seek other women. They have spent the evening together and the speaker swore her eternal love. Come morning however, he has already grown bored with her and begins to rationalize that he will first have to experience a wide variety of other women in order to see that she is the perfect woman for him. While he states that if he does come back to his lady he will stay with her for good, faithfully, he implies that it is unlikely that he will ever return.
Honor in War - To Lucasta, Going to the Wars
The speaker is about to leave to fight in an unspecified war, which appears to be a frequent occurrence and something that the speaker is yearning for. His beloved, Lucasta, appears to be less enthusiastic as the speaker gently chastises her for not supporting him and pleads for her blessing. He calls fighting his “mistress” (l. 5) that he actively chases, implying a level of love that the speaker holds for war, which he freely admits. In the last stanza, the speaker reminds his lady that loving the honor in war and fights so much is what makes him the honorable person that loves her.
Being the One that Loves More - To Lucasta, Her Reserved Looks
In the poem, the speaker details the sorrow and heartache he feels in his relationship as he is obviously the one who loves more. His beloved on the other hand is sometimes cool and distant, and warm and affectionate at other times, always keeping the speaker on his toes, as he is helplessly influenced by her moods. While the speaker is aware of his problem and can see that his beloved is toying with him, there is nothing he can do but lament and hope that one day she will love him as much as he loves her.
