Carew, Thomas

Carew, Thomas, 1595?–1639?, English author, one of the Cavalier poets. Educated at Merton College, Oxford, he had a short diplomatic career on the Continent, then returned to England and became a favorite of Charles I and a court official. He is best known for his courtly, amorous lyrics, such as Ask me no more where Jove bestows and He that loves a rosy cheek, but of equal importance are his Elegy on the Death of Dr. Donne, and the highly erotic poem, A Rapture. In his use of metaphysical and classical material, he shows the influence of both John Donne and Ben Jonson.

See ed. of his works by R. Dunlap (1949); study by E. I. Selig (1958, repr. 1970).

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