I'm seeing if anyone else can help me with this poem. I have to do a 10 minute report on it, analyzing what it meaning, tone, punctuation...etc. I'm clueless. I'd be grateful for any help!

Why So Pale and Wan, Fond Lover
Sir John Suckling - (1609-1642)

Why so pale and wan, fond lover?
Prithee, why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
Looking ill prevail?
Prithe, why so pale?

Why so dull and mute, young sinner?
Prithee, why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing do 't?
Prithee, why so mute?

Quit, quit, for shame! this will not move,
This cannot take her;
If of herself she will not love,
Nothing can make her:
The Devil take her!

Taylor, I think you get the meaning by reading the response to your first post.
The tone, is one of mild indignation. The speaker in the poem is clearly frustrated with the antics of his beloved.

The punctuation is clearly intended to make the reader pause/stop at the end of each line. What is the effect of this? It causes the reader to slow down while reading, supposedly to pause and wait for a response from the intendee of the poem.


Les

Well, surely you could pick on poor John for rhyming move with love and mute with do 't. And, if he is gonna match sinner, he could at least have spelled its mate as win 'er!