Richard Lovelace

There is much to Richard Lovelace – not only did he have an education from both Oxford and Cambridge, but he also composed poetry written to entertain the reigning King of England. Alongside his appreciation for all the finer things in life, he spent his time writing texts that would be considered major contributions to the English literary canon. Read on to find out where he and other 'Cavalier poets' stand in the tradition of English Literature.

Richard Lovelace: Biography

Born on 9 December 1617, Richard Lovelace was one of eight Lovelace family children. As the son of Sir William Lovelace and Anne Barne Lovelace, he came from a family of means. Being landed gentry, Richard Lovelace was 11 when his family paid for him to attend the Sutton's Foundation at Charterhouse School. In 1631, he was given the honorary title 'Gentleman Wayter Extraordinary' to the reigning ruler at the time, King Charles I. It is perhaps because of this that he loyally served the King throughout his life.

By the time Richard Lovelace was 18 years old, he had already received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oxford. During his time at the university, Lovelace produced almost 200 poems and a play that was performed at his college. Afterwards, he went on to study at the University of Cambridge. It is at Cambridge that he met and went into the service of Lord Goring, after which his life was rife with political turmoil. It was this political trouble that often inspired some of his best work.

As a soldier in Lord Goring's regiment, Richard Lovelace fought in the Bishops' Wars and also stirred up trouble in the House of Commons in 1642, wherein he presented a pro-Royalist petition that should have been burned. It was his political activism that led to his imprisonment twice, once in 1642 and again in 1648. Upon his release, he learned of the execution of the King, which contributed to his composition of the volume of poems titled Lucasta (1649). Richard Lovelace, considered one of the greatest Cavalier poets, died in 1657 and two years after his death, his poetry was published by his brother, Dudley.

Richard Lovelace: Poems

In the following section, we will look at some of the famous poems written by Richard Lovelace and the circumstances that inspired them.

Richard Lovelace's 'To Lucasta, Going to the Warres' (1649)

Published in the Lucasta collection, this poem was written when Lovelace was serving in the regiment of Lord Goring and participating in the Bishops' Wars. Although it is possible, it is not known whether or not Lovelace intended to write the poem for a real woman. In the poem, the speaker addresses a woman called 'Lucasta' and expresses profound sadness at the thought of having to leave her and fight a war. This indicates that the poem was from a soldier's perspective and carries a note of chivalry and honour throughout. The poem brings out the theme of love pitted against duty, wherein the speaker argues that he would not be worthy of Lucasta's love if he did not fully commit to his duties in war.

Richard Lovelace's 'To Althea, from Prison' (1642)

Considered Richard Lovelace's most famous poem, 'To Althea, from Prison' was composed in 1642, during the time Lovelace was imprisoned in Gatehouse Prison near Westminster Abbey in London. In the poem, the speaker personifies 'Love' and imagines how Love delivers his beloved Althea to him in his prison. In his imagination, he touches her and hears her lovely voice, and they express their deep, passionate love for each other. In a dramatic change, the speaker then talks about a 'celebration' with his fellow prisoners, where he celebrates still being alive. He remarks that the prison does not feel like a prison to him, for he believes in his cause and that, as long as he has his love, nothing can imprison him. Freedom and love are the key themes of the poem.

Richard Lovelace: other poems

Although this list is by no means comprehensive, other poems by Richard Lovelace include:

• 'A Lady with a Falcon on her Fist. To The Honourable My Cousin Anne Lovelace'
• 'A Fly About a Glass of Burnt Claret'
• 'To Amarantha, That she Would Dishevel her Hair.'

Richard Lovelace's poems have a romantic undertone and often contain themes that hint at his dedication to King Charles I.

Richard Lovelace: a Cavalier poet

Richard Lovelace is one of the most famous Cavalier poets.

The school of Cavalier poets emerged in the 17th century during the reign of King Charles I, particularly during the English Civil War (1642-1651). King Charles I was a patron of a group of poets who produced the kind of poetry he enjoyed. In return for his patronage, and to celebrate their code of chivalry and loyalty towards the English monarchy, Cavalier poets supported King Charles I and his cause. In addition to Richard Lovelace, other Cavalier poets include Sir John Suckling, Robert Herrick, and Thomas Carew.

The term, 'Cavalier', refers to a mounted knight or soldier. Richard Lovelace served in the King's army in the Bishops' Wars. He also, as is typical of Cavalier poets, celebrated honour, loyalty, the monarchy, King Charles I and the life of a knight in his poems. Cavalier poets also wrote about the celebration of life and living it to its fullest, which involved a sense of joie de vivre, camaraderie with fellow men, and an appreciation of beauty (and beautiful women). These themes can often be identified in the poems by Richard Lovelace.