O what shall I do?

Song Meaning

The narrator is caught in an agonizing dilemma, paralyzed by the overwhelming power of a beloved's gaze. Facing a choice between direct confrontation and self-imposed blindness, both paths lead to destruction. The initial question, "O what shall I do, or whither shall I turn me?" sets a tone of utter desperation and helplessness. The beloved's eyes are not just beautiful; they are dangerous, capable of "burning" the narrator, suggesting an intensity that is both alluring and terrifying. This fear of being consumed by the beloved's presence dictates the narrator's every thought. The central conflict arises from this impossible situation: to look is to be burned, but to avert one's gaze and speak only what is required leads to an internal drowning in tears. The lyrics vividly portray this internal torment, stating, "Then in a flood of tears I drown my heart." This imagery suggests an emotional overflow so profound it threatens to extinguish the narrator's very being, a consequence of suppressing genuine feeling. The paradox is that even holding back tears will only intensify the internal pressure, causing them to "swell for scope," ultimately drowning "love, life, and hope." The most striking craft element is the personification of beauty and mercy, and the narrator's desperate plea for a specific kind of salvation. The beloved is a "fair creature rich in beauty," yet the narrator fears "mercy be exiled / From a thing so fair compiled." This contrast highlights the narrator's belief that such exquisite beauty should inherently possess compassion, but the fear that it doesn't creates the ultimate dread. The narrator is willing to "choose to die" at the beloved's feet, a dramatic gesture of surrender, but begs, "O kill not love and duty," revealing a hope that their devotion might be recognized and reciprocated, or at least spared. This piece hits so hard because it articulates a universal fear of overwhelming passion and the paralysis it can induce. The narrator's willingness to face death, either by the beloved's gaze or by their own suppressed emotions, underscores the extreme stakes. The final lines, "Then patiently / By thee I'll die," offer a grim resolution: if mercy is indeed absent, the narrator will accept their fate, finding a strange solace in dying in the presence of the one who caused their demise. It’s a raw depiction of being consumed by adoration and the terror of unrequited or destructive love.