--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under…" description: "\"Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under that cypress tree;Or bid me die, and I will dareE'en Death, to die for thee.\" — Robert Herrick" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/robert-herrick-3088_cypress-trees_bid-me-despair-and-i-ll-despair-under-th_2293140.png" --- # Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under that cypress… ![“Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under that cypress tree;Or bid me die, and I will dareE'en Death, to die for thee.” quote by Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/robert-herrick-3088_cypress-trees_bid-me-despair-and-i-ll-despair-under-th_2293140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/robert-herrick-3088_cypress-trees_bid-me-despair-and-i-ll-despair-under-th_2293140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b9/robert-herrick-3088_cypress-trees_bid-me-despair-and-i-ll-despair-under-th_2293140.png) > “Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under that cypress tree;Or bid me die, and I will dareE'en Death, to die for thee.” [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker declares willingness to face despair or death for love, showing ultimate devotion. **In simple terms:** Willing to endure hardship for love. Key Takeaway Embrace love’s challenges. Themes love devotion sacrifice Mood passionate determined Type poetic dramatic When to use this quote - personal relationships - wartime sacrifice - poetic expression Key Concepts romanticism heroic resolve Questions to Reflect On - What limits should love have? - When does devotion become self‑harm? A Different Perspective Love may demand self‑destruction, which can be unhealthy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cypress trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cypress-trees/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [Alas for him who never sees The stars shine through his cypress-trees Who, hopeless, lays his dead away, Nor looks to see the breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/alas-for-him-who-never-sees-the-stars-shine-through-his-cypress-trees/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/when-i-am-dead-my-dearest-sing-no-sad-songs-for-me/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [I do not expect anyone will ever have the opportunity of constructing another course like Cypress Point, as I do not suppose anywhere in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-mackenzie/i-do-not-expect-anyone-will-ever-have-the-opportunity-of-constructing/) [Alister MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-mackenzie/) > [Be the green grass above me, with showers and dewdrops wet; and if thou wilt, remember, and if thou wilt, forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/be-the-green-grass-above-me-with-showers-and-dewdrops-wet-and-if-thou/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [Phocion compared the speeches of Leosthenes to cypress-trees. "They are tall," said he, "and comely, but bear no fruit."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/phocion-compared-the-speeches-of-leosthenes-to-cypress-trees-they-are/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Reelfoot is, and has always been, a lake of mystery.In places it is bottomless. Other places the skeletons of the cypress-trees that went down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/reelfoot-is-and-has-always-been-a-lake-of-mystery-in-places-it-is/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [Despair is the price one pays for self-awareness. Look deeply into life, and you'll always find despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/despair-is-the-price-one-pays-for-self-awareness-look-deeply-into/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [If you weaken, I'll be strong. If you get lost, I'll be your way home. If you despair, I'll bring you joy. 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Do not approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/you-will-find-a-spring-by-the-dwelling-of-the-dead-to-the-left-next/) [Gustaw Herling-Grudzinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) ## More by Robert Herrick > [Love is maintain'd by wealth: when all is spent, Adversity then breeds the discontent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/love-is-maintain-d-by-wealth-when-all-is-spent-adversity-then-breeds/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [It takes great wit and interest and energy to be happy. The pursuit of happiness is a great activity. One must be open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/it-takes-great-wit-and-interest-and-energy-to-be-happy-the-pursuit-of/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [Whatever comes, let's be content withal; Among God's blessings there is not one small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/whatever-comes-let-s-be-content-withal-among-god-s-blessings-there-is/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [When a daffadill I see, Hanging down his head towards me, Guess I may, what I must be: First, I shall decline my head;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/when-a-daffadill-i-see-hanging-down-his-head-towards-me-guess-i-may/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [In ways to greatness think on this, That slippery all ambition is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/in-ways-to-greatness-think-on-this-that-slippery-all-ambition-is/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [“Have ye beheld (with much delight) A red rose peeping through a white? 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Then go on; Back-turning slackens resolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/hast-thou-attempted-greatnesse-then-go-on-back-turning-slackens/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [Attempt the end and never stand to doubt; Nothing's so hard, but search will find it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/attempt-the-end-and-never-stand-to-doubt-nothing-s-so-hard-but-search/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [The readiness of doing doth expresse No other but the doer's willingnesse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/the-readiness-of-doing-doth-expresse-no-other-but-the-doer-s/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) [Explore all 140 Robert Herrick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) ## More Cypress trees quotes > [Reelfoot is, and has always been, a lake of mystery.In places it is bottomless. 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"They are tall," said he, "and comely, but bear no fruit."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/phocion-compared-the-speeches-of-leosthenes-to-cypress-trees-they-are/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“ANOTHER TWILIGHT Allow the point of the Croccodrillo its hazy cypress trees in profile Like a rough sketch for the Isle of the Dead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-robinson/another-twilight-allow-the-point-of-the-croccodrillo-its-hazy-cypress/) [Peter Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-robinson/) > [Be the green grass above me, with showers and dewdrops wet; and if thou wilt, remember, and if thou wilt, forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/be-the-green-grass-above-me-with-showers-and-dewdrops-wet-and-if-thou/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [I do not expect anyone will ever have the opportunity of constructing another course like Cypress Point, as I do not suppose anywhere in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-mackenzie/i-do-not-expect-anyone-will-ever-have-the-opportunity-of-constructing/) [Alister MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-mackenzie/) > [“We came to discover a world rich with culture, history, and bayous. 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