Thomas Campion - Amaryllis (Check If Flower)

Song Meaning

The speaker makes a clear distinction between two types of women: the "ladies" who require elaborate courtship and material gifts, and "Amaryllis," a "wanton country maid" who embodies natural beauty and genuine affection. He dismisses the former, finding their demands tiresome and their love transactional, preferring the unadorned authenticity of Amaryllis. The lyrics frame this preference as a rejection of artifice in favor of nature's genuine offerings. The central tension lies in the contrast between superficiality and sincerity. The "ladies" are associated with "golden showers" and "pillows and beds by strangers wrought," suggesting wealth and manufactured comfort. Amaryllis, conversely, is linked to natural bounty: "fruit and flowers," "nut-brown lass," and a "bower of willows, of moss and leaves unbought." This highlights the speaker's desire for a love that is freely given and rooted in natural connection, not transactional exchange. The most striking element is the repeated refrain: "Who when we court and kiss, she cries: forsooth, let go! / But when we come where comfort is, she never will say no." This phrase, applied to Amaryllis, creates a playful, almost teasing dynamic. It suggests a spirited resistance that ultimately yields to genuine intimacy, a stark contrast to the passive or demanding nature of the "ladies." This repetition emphasizes the speaker's ideal of a responsive, yet playfully coy, partner. These lyrics resonate because they tap into a fantasy of uncomplicated affection and natural beauty. The speaker's direct dismissal of societal expectations and material pursuits in favor of a more elemental connection feels both refreshing and aspirational. The consistent structure and the memorable, slightly cheeky refrain solidify the poem's argument for a love that is authentic and unburdened by artifice.