The Sirens' Song

William Browne, of Tavistock's The Sirens' Song

Introduction

William Browne of Tavistock's "The Sirens' Song" is a masterful example of early 17th-century English lyric poetry, embodying the sensual allure and deadly deception associated with the mythological sirens. This essay will explore the poem's intricate construction, its thematic richness, and its place within the broader context of Renaissance literature. Through close analysis of its form, imagery, and allusions, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded in Browne's artful verses.

Historical and Literary Context

Browne, a contemporary of Ben Jonson and protégé of Michael Drayton, wrote during a period of great literary flourishing in England. The early 1600s saw a continued interest in classical mythology, particularly as a vehicle for exploring themes of love, desire, and human fallibility. "The Sirens' Song" exemplifies this trend, drawing on the Greek myth of the sirens—dangerous creatures who lured sailors to their doom with enchanting music—to create a poem that is at once seductive and sinister.

The poem's structure and style reflect the influence of the metaphysical poets, with its complex conceits and playful use of paradox. However, Browne's work also anticipates the Cavalier poets' emphasis on graceful lyricism and courtly love themes, positioning "The Sirens' Song" at a fascinating juncture in English poetic development.

Form and Structure

The poem consists of two stanzas of ten lines each, following a complex rhyme scheme (AABCCBDDEE). This intricate pattern mirrors the sirens' own artful deception, as the rhymes weave a hypnotic spell on the reader. The irregular line lengths, alternating between long and short, create a rhythmic ebb and flow reminiscent of ocean waves—an appropriate choice given the maritime setting.

Browne's use of enjambment, particularly in lines such as "Here lie Love's undiscover'd mines, / A prey to passengers—", creates a sense of forward momentum, drawing the reader (and the metaphorical sailors) inexorably towards the sirens' fatal shore. The repeated refrain at the end of each stanza, "Then come on shore, / Where no joy dies till Love hath gotten more," serves as both an invitation and a warning, encapsulating the dual nature of the sirens' call.

Imagery and Symbolism

The poem is rich in nautical imagery, befitting its subject matter. The opening line, "STEER, hither steer your winged pines," immediately establishes the maritime context, with ships metaphorically transformed into "winged pines"—an image that combines the grace of flight with the sturdy reliability of pine wood. This juxtaposition of ethereal and earthly elements recurs throughout the poem, underscoring the tension between the spiritual allure of the sirens and the physical danger they represent.

Browne employs a series of sensual images to convey the sirens' irresistible appeal. The "Perfumes far sweeter than the best / Which make the Phoenix' urn and nest" evoke not only scent but also the myth of the phoenix, suggesting both rarity and the cycle of death and rebirth—a subtle foreshadowing of the fate awaiting the sailors. The comparison of the sirens' breasts to "swelling waves" where "never storms arise" creates a paradoxical image of calm danger, while the stars that "gaze on our eyes" invert the traditional relationship between sailors and celestial navigation.

Thematic Analysis

At its core, "The Sirens' Song" explores the tension between desire and destruction, pleasure and peril. The sirens promise an eternity of joy—"Where no joy dies till Love hath gotten more"—yet this very promise contains within it the seed of endless longing. The repetition of this line at the end of each stanza emphasizes both its allure and its impossibility.

The poem also grapples with themes of discovery and deception. The sirens speak of "Love's undiscover'd mines," suggesting hidden treasures of passion, yet these are described as "A prey to passengers"—a clear warning of the danger that awaits. This duality is further emphasized by the sirens' assurance that the sailors need "Fear not your ships, / Nor any to oppose you save our lips," where the seemingly innocuous threat of lips belies their deadly intent.

Browne's sirens subvert traditional gender roles of the period, presenting themselves as active and assertive rather than passive objects of desire. They command the sailors to "STEER" towards them and offer to "hourly sing" the compass, positioning themselves as guides and leaders. This inversion of expected power dynamics adds another layer of danger and allure to their song.

Literary Devices and Techniques

Browne demonstrates his poetic prowess through his skillful use of various literary devices. Alliteration, as in "panting breasts" and "stars gaze," creates a musical quality that echoes the sirens' enchanting song. The extended metaphor of love as a compass, with the sirens promising to "tell each point he nameth with a kiss," cleverly combines the nautical theme with the concept of love as a guiding force—albeit a misleading one in this context.

The poem's use of apostrophe, directly addressing the "beaten mariners," creates a sense of immediacy and draws the reader into the role of the tempted sailor. This rhetorical device, combined with the imperative mood of commands like "STEER" and "come on shore," lends the poem a persuasive, almost hypnotic quality that mimics the effect of the sirens' song itself.

Comparative Analysis

"The Sirens' Song" invites comparison with other works of the period that deal with themes of temptation and mortality. John Donne's "Death, be not proud," for instance, similarly grapples with the personification of a deadly force, though Donne's speaker confronts death defiantly while Browne's sirens embrace their lethal nature. Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" offers another point of comparison, as both poems present an idealized invitation to love, though Browne's work carries a far darker undercurrent.

In the broader context of siren mythology, Browne's poem can be read alongside classical treatments of the theme, such as Homer's account in "The Odyssey." While Homer's sirens promise knowledge, Browne's offer sensual pleasure, reflecting shifting cultural values and literary conventions.

Critical Reception and Influence

Though less widely known than some of his contemporaries, Browne's work, and "The Sirens' Song" in particular, has been praised for its musical quality and imaginative use of mythology. The poem's influence can be traced through later works that explore similar themes of dangerous allure, such as Keats' "La Belle Dame sans Merci" and Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," which echoes the song of the sirens in its own complex exploration of desire and hesitation.

Conclusion

William Browne's "The Sirens' Song" stands as a testament to the poetic innovations of the early 17th century. Through its intricate form, vivid imagery, and complex thematic content, the poem offers a multifaceted exploration of desire, deception, and the human condition. Browne's sirens, with their paradoxical promises of eternal joy and implicit threat of destruction, continue to captivate readers, inviting us to navigate the treacherous waters between temptation and reason, passion and prudence. As we analyze this poem, we are reminded of the enduring power of myth to illuminate the complexities of human experience, and of poetry's capacity to enchant and enlighten in equal measure.