Corinna's Going A-Maying Inertia Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #1

Get up, get up for shame, the blooming morn
Upon her wings presents the god unshorn (1-2)

The repetition of "get up" makes this command even more insistent, while the "for shame" reminds us that being lazy is something to be embarrassed about.

Quote #2

Get up, sweet slug-a-bed, and see
    The dew bespangling herb and tree (5-6)

This speaker keeps it together. He's impatient but still affectionate, and when Corinna doesn't respond to one argument, he switches to a new one in the next stanza. Talk about resourceful.

Quote #3

    Come and receive them while the light
    Hangs on the dew-locks of the night:
    And Titan on the eastern hill
    Retires himself, or else stands still
Till you come forth […] (23-27)

No one in the village is waiting on them—the cream cakes are probably completely obliterated—but nature's willing to dawdle a little for a good purpose. Note the contrast, though, between these lines and stanza 5. Night's willing to stand still in stanza 2, but by stanza 5 it looks like everyone's patience has run out: "Our life is short, and our days run / As fast away as does the sun" (61-2). So don't test your luck too far, Corinna.