Lips and Eyes

Lips and Eyes
By Thomas Carew

In Celia's face a question did arise,
Which were more beautiful, her lips or eyes?
"We," said the eyes, "send forth those pointed darts
Which pierce the hardest adamantine hearts."
"From us," repli'd the lips, "proceed those blisses
Which lovers reap by the kind words and sweet kisses."
Then wept the eyes, and from their springs did pour
Of liquid oriental pearl a shower:
Whereat the lips, moved with delight and pleasure,
Through a sweet smile unlock'd their pearly treasure
And bad Love judge, whether did add more grace
Weeping or smiling pearls to Celia's face.

Today in class it was suggested that we research a poet from around Shakespeare's time to prepare us for Hamlet. In doing this, I came across Thomas Carew, who was born in 1595 and lived until 1640. He died really young compared to what we see people live to today. However, he grew up around England and became a secretary to Sir Dudley Carleton and became a part of an embassy.
So when I read the first line, I am curious. Who is Celia? Is it Sir Dudley Carleton's wife that Carew made comments about? He clearly cannot decide whether he likes her eyes or her lips more. They seem to satisfy him in different ways. When Carew personifies Celia's eyes, they are fighting a battle. They want to be considered more beautiful than her lips. Same goes for the lips-they want to end up on top. Carew seems to be seduced by both. The eyes break through hearts that are expected to be impenetrable hearts no matter who is it. The fact that Carew compares them to darts makes me think that they can be thrown at anything and anyone and still make a mark. However, when I think of eyes getting called "darts" I think of that look I used to get from my parents when I was serving at church, sitting up front and talking and then I would look over and see my mom in the pew and she just had this look and her eyes were daggers. There is no way a child has never gotten that from his or her mother. I still get it all the time! Mainly when I'm talking at church still but that's not the point. It just seems more negative than positive to me.I guess that also goes back to breaking through any heart. Or the looks Celia gives are just so capturing that the speaker cannot break away from her.The lips on the other hand, excite Carew. Carew apparently had many troubles with certain sexual remarks and mistresses. Going along with that, the talk of lips is very sexual. After the lips give their statement, the eyes cry! They full on cry! They cry because they feel that they have lost the argument. The eyes know that even though they can break through any heart, that the lips ultimately bring the love. And the lips seem to think they have won as well! They dance and frolic over Celia's face. However, the speaker seems to still be having trouble when he/she says "whether did add more grace/ weeping or smiling pearls to Celia's face."  It seems that even when Celia is upset, her eyes are still beautiful and when she smiles it's as if she is full of treasure--pearls. But what can this mean! The only thing I can think of is that it's going to be a continuing battle for the lips and eyes.


Jokinen, Anniina. "Life of Thomas Carew." Luminarium.
        23 March 1997. 8 January 2014.
        <http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/carew/carewbio.htm>