The Annotated Edition
Bermudas by Andrew Marvell
A small boat of English settlers rows through the Atlantic, singing a hymn of gratitude to God for leading them to the Bermudas — a lush, safe island away from the troubles of home.
- Poet
- Andrew Marvell
- Core theme
- Faith
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
Where the remote Bermudas ride / In th' Oceans bosome unespy'd,
Editor's note
Marvell starts with a frame: we learn the origin of this song before actually hearing it. The Bermudas are depicted as concealed in the ocean's "bosome" — sheltered, secret, almost cradled. "Unespy'd" introduces the notion that this is a place the larger world hasn't seen, which adds to its sense of wonder and security.
What should we do but sing his Praise / That led us through the watry Maze,
Editor's note
Now the song itself begins. The settlers pose a rhetorical question — what else *could* they do but praise God? The ocean is described as a "watry Maze," highlighting just how disorienting and perilous Atlantic crossings were in the 17th century. It’s God who guided them through it.
Where he the huge Sea-Monsters wracks, / That lift the Deep upon their Backs.
Editor's note
God doesn't merely guide the settlers — he also helps them face the perils of the sea. "Sea-Monsters" is both literal (whales really were frightening for small-boat sailors) and biblical, reminiscent of the Leviathan from Job. The depiction of creatures lifting the depths on their backs conveys a sense of the ocean's wild, untamed power.
He lands us on a grassy Stage; / Safe from the Storms, and Prelat's rage.
Editor's note
"Grassy Stage" has a nice double meaning: it refers to a theatrical stage (the island as the backdrop for their new life) and also to a grassy landing area. "Prelat's rage" brings a political edge to the poem—many of the English settlers in Bermuda were Puritan dissenters escaping persecution from Anglican bishops (prelates). The island offers refuge from both the harshness of nature and the grip of religious authority.
He gave us this eternal Spring, / Which here enamells every thing;
Editor's note
The climate of Bermuda is often called "eternal Spring" — it doesn’t experience harsh winters or dying seasons. "Enamells" is a term used by painters: enamel refers to a bright, hard glaze. Marvell suggests that the island's colors are vivid and everlasting, as if God himself applied a glossy finish to the landscape.
He hangs in shades the Orange bright, / Like golden Lamps in a green Night.
Editor's note
One of the most celebrated images in the poem is the sight of oranges glowing against dark leaves, likened to golden lamps illuminating a green night. This small, vivid detail transforms the tropical abundance into something magical, rather than just plentiful. The light-in-darkness imagery also hints at a subtle religious significance.
And does in the Pomgranates close, / Jewels more rich than Ormus show's.
Editor's note
Pomegranate seeds are likened to jewels more valuable than those found at Hormuz (Ormus), the well-known Persian Gulf trading port famous for its gems and luxury items. Marvell suggests that God's natural gifts are far superior to anything that human trade can offer. This is not just a compliment to the island; it’s also a subtle jab at material wealth.
He makes the Figs our mouths to meet; / And throws the Melons at our feet.
Editor's note
The fruit is almost self-serving—figs hang invitingly, while melons are playfully tossed at the settlers' feet. This reflects the essence of Eden: a natural abundance, where nature and humanity coexist peacefully. The whimsical image of God tossing melons adds a light-hearted touch, keeping the mood joyful instead of serious.
But Apples plants of such a price, / No Tree could ever bear them twice.
Editor's note
The "Apples" mentioned here are likely pineapples, which were considered exotic and very expensive in 17th-century England. The phrase "no Tree could ever bear them twice" highlights the biology of the pineapple plant, as it usually produces just one fruit per plant. This also suggests the notion of a rare, once-in-a-lifetime gift.
With Cedars, chosen by his hand, / From Lebanon, he stores the Land.
Editor's note
Cedars of Lebanon symbolize majesty and permanence in the Bible—Solomon used them to construct the Temple. By stating that God has filled Bermuda with these trees, Marvell elevates the island to a sacred level. The settlers find themselves not only in a pleasant location but also in a place rich with biblical meaning.
And makes the hollow Seas, that roar, / Proclaime the Ambergris on shoar.
Editor's note
Ambergris — a waxy substance made by sperm whales and used in perfume — was extremely valuable. The roaring sea itself "proclaims" it washed ashore, almost as if the ocean is a herald announcing divine gifts. Even the noise of the sea seems to offer a kind of praise.
He cast (of which we rather boast) / The Gospels Pearl upon our Coast.
Editor's note
This is what the settlers truly prize, and they're aware of it. The Gospel — the Christian message — is the "Pearl" they cherish above all the fruit and ambergris. "We rather boast" serves as a pointed remark: while those natural wonders are impressive, *this* is what they genuinely take pride in having brought along. It resonates with the biblical parable of the pearl of great price.
And in these Rocks for us did frame / A Temple, where to sound his Name.
Editor's note
God has formed the rocky landscape into a natural temple. This directly opposes the "Prelat's rage" mentioned earlier — the settlers don't require a bishop's church; the island itself serves as their place of worship. It’s a subtly bold statement about religious freedom.
Oh let our Voice his Praise exalt, / Till it arrive at Heavens Vault:
Editor's note
The hymn hits its emotional high point. The settlers hope their praise ascends to heaven's ceiling — "Vault" gives heaven a solid architectural feel, resembling a grand cathedral dome. The power of this imagery reflects the intensity of their faith.
Which thence (perhaps) rebounding, may / Eccho beyond the Mexique Bay.
Editor's note
The song reverberates through heaven and spreads out across the Gulf of Mexico — the entire New World transforms into a resonating chamber for their praise. The word "Perhaps" adds a touch of human uncertainty to an otherwise assured hymn, making the aspiration feel sincere instead of arrogant.
Thus sung they, in the English boat, / An holy and a chearful Note,
Editor's note
Marvell returns to the scene he set up at the beginning. We see the singers from a distance once more: just people in a boat, their song characterized as both holy *and* cheerful—a mix that holds significance. This isn't somber Puritan piety; it's joyful faith. The term "English" subtly brings to mind the exile these settlers have left behind.
And all the way, to guide their Chime, / With falling Oars they kept the time.
Editor's note
The poem concludes with a vivid, earthy image: the oars striking the water maintain the song's rhythm. Music and work merge seamlessly. The term "falling" lends the oars a soft, almost melodic quality. After all the splendor of paradise and the heavenly sky, we return to the straightforward sound of people rowing and singing in unison.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The Boat
- The small rowing boat symbolizes the settlers' vulnerability and faith. It's a tiny vessel in a vast ocean, highlighting just how profound their trust in God's guidance is. In the end, the boat brings the poem back to physical reality after all the grand imagery of paradise.
- Exotic Fruit (oranges, pomegranates, figs, melons, pineapples)
- The abundance of tropical fruit suggests that Bermuda is a new Eden—a paradise given to them by God. Each fruit is seen as a thoughtful gift rather than just something that grows, highlighting that the settlers are uniquely chosen and looked after.
- The Temple in the Rocks
- A natural formation that settlers interpreted as a divinely created place of worship. It sharply contrasts with the institutional church and its bishops they left behind in England, representing a more direct and personal relationship with God.
- The Gospel's Pearl
- Drawn from the biblical parable of the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46), this symbol emphasizes that the Christian faith is more valuable than any material wealth the island offers. It's the one thing the settlers brought *with* them, not something they discovered upon arrival, and they cherish it above all else.
- The Falling Oars
- The oars keeping time with the song in the final lines blend physical labor and spiritual praise. They imply that worship isn't distinct from daily work — both rhythms share the same beat.
- Heaven's Vault
- Heaven is envisioned as a vast, arched ceiling resembling a cathedral dome, capable of sending sound back to earth. This portrayal gives the divine a sense of architectural solidity and proximity, while also implying that the settlers' praise is bold enough to reach it.
§06Historical context
Historical context
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
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