# XXVII: Though I Thy Mithridates Were explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James Joyce.

## What happens

The speaker compares himself to Mithridates, who was immune to poison, yet admits he must be vulnerable to experience the true rapture of the beloved's heart. He confesses the 'malice' of the beloved's tenderness and laments that his poetic language is too learned and conventional to truly praise a love that is always tinged with a little falsity.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Longing

The poem explores the paradoxical nature of love, where vulnerability is necessary for true connection, and even the most tender love contains a hint of falsity.

### Art and Creativity

The speaker critiques his own poetic language as 'elegant and antique,' suggesting a tension between conventional poetic forms and the authentic expression of love.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The speaker reflects on his own immunity and vulnerability, and critiques his own poetic expression.

### Beloved

The beloved is addressed directly, and their tenderness is described as having a 'malice' that the speaker must confess.

## Key lines

> Though I thy Mithridates were, Framed to defy the poison-dart, Yet must thou fold me unaware To know the rapture of thy heart

Even if I were like Mithridates, immune to poison, you must still catch me off guard so I can experience the ecstasy of your heart.

_The speaker acknowledges that immunity to harm is not enough; he must be vulnerable to truly experience love._

> For elegant and antique phrase, Dearest, my lips wax all too wise; Nor have I known a love whose praise Our piping poets solemnize

My lips have become too clever with refined and old-fashioned language, and I have never known a love that our conventional poets celebrate.

_The speaker criticizes his own poetic style as too artificial to capture genuine love._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_11_se/chapters/xxvii-though-i-thy-mithridates-were
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_11_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_11_se/chapters