could anyone help me please ?

Question

I want to know what's this poem about ? And what are the two major imageries ? and the poet's attitude towards love and death .cauz it's really confusing to me
"love wounds with heat as death with cold
so that I fear they do but bring extremes to touch,and mean one thing .
as in aruin we it call.One thing to be blown up or fall
Or to our end like way may have
by a flash of lightening or a wave
so love's inflamed shaft or brand
May kill as soon as Death's cold hand;
Except love's fires the virtue have
to fright the frost out of the grave ".

Answer 1

Ben Jonson

from

The Sad Shepherd, Act I., Sc. v.

KAROLIN'S SONG

Though I am young, and cannot tell
Either what Death or Love is well,
Yet I have heard they both bear darts,
And both do aim at humane hearts :
And then again, I have been told,
Love wounds wtih heat, as Death with cold ;
So that I fear they do but bring
Extremes to touch, and mean one thing.

As in a ruin we it call
One thing to be blown up, or fall ;
Or to our end, like way may have,
By a flash of lightning, or a wave :
So Love's inflamèd shaft or brand,
May kill as soon as Death's cold hand ;
Except Love's fires the virtue have
To fright the frost out of the grave.


Here are your two major images:

"So Love's inflamèd shaft or brand,
May kill as soon as Death's cold hand "

Love and Death are personified.

Johnson is comparing/contrasting love and death.
Love, being passionate, wounds with heat, whereas death stills our blood and makes us cold.
They both can kill us - love with the heat of passion (Romeo and Juliet, for example), but of the two, love is to be version of "killing" is to be preferred for the heat of passion is better than the cold of the grave.

Answer 2

Here's the whole poem.

Ben Jonson
Though I Am Young and Cannot Tell

Though I am young, and cannot tell
Either what Death or Love is well,
Yet I have heard they both bear darts,
And both do aim at human hearts.
And then again, I have been told
Love wounds wtih heat, as Death with cold;
So that I fear they do but bring
Extremes to touch, and mean one thing.

As in a ruin we it call
One thing to be blown up, or fall;
Or to our end like way may have
By a flash of lightning, or a wave;
So Love's inflamed shaft or brand
May kill as soon as Death's cold hand;
Except Love's fires the virtue have
To fright the frost out of the grave.

The part in which you are interested means basically that if love goes dead (cold) it can hurt real bad but if it's passionate (hot) then wah - hay !!!!!!

Answer 3

you should try posting this in the poetry section, you might get more feedback.