Nymph reply to the Shepherd

In the poem “ The Nymph’s reply to the Shepherd”1 Sir Walter Raleigh’s nymph believes the shepherd only wants her for her physical beauty, and as her beauty fades his shallowness will be revealed. Raleigh proves this intent by contrasting the idealistic world the shepherd offers with the reality they live in, and by criticizing the things the shepherd would her. This viewpoint is important because it highlights Raleighs willingness to highlight a point of view usually not heard in sonnets. “If all the world and love were young, - And truth in every shepherd’s tongue, - These pretty pleasures might me move- To live with thee and be thy love.”(The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd, Page 121, lines 1-2)2. These lines set a tone of criticizing the fake and idealistic love the shepherd has for her. The nymph constantly questions the ideal world the shepherd has set forth and what she sees as reality. The “If” at the beginning of the sentence leads us to believe that she is not affected by the shepherd’s words. The second part of the quote further reinforces the argument that she believes his words are shallow. The nymph can see that his love is shallow because even if his she says that “ These pretty pleasures might move me”3 (line 3) . The keyword in this quote is “might”. Even if the shepherd told the truth, even if people always loved she still may not love him. The juxtaposition of the “pretty pleasures” and the “might only” only further add to the fact that she does not love objects.
She really expounds on this points in the following stanza: “ Time drives the flocks from field to fold” (line 5) this quote refers to how time often gets rid of suitors.. To the nymph this is not love. Love does not fade as soon as beauty leaves. To the nymph love is about the deeper emotional connection two people share more so than the physical. She is not moved by the pretty pleasure he offers her. Another quote which is important is “ And Philomel becometh dumb” (line 7)4.