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The Annotated Edition

--TO MISTRESS BARBARA by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Three suitors arrive on Valentine's Day to serenade a young woman, but it's only the third one — the poem's speaker — who professes a love that has endured and remains vibrant today.

Poet
Eugene Field
Themes
hope, identity, love
The PoemFull text

--TO MISTRESS BARBARA

Eugene Field

There were three cavaliers, all handsome and true, On Valentine's day came a maiden to woo, And quoth to your mother: "Good-morrow, my dear, We came with some songs for your daughter to hear!" Your mother replied: "I'll be pleased to convey To my daughter what things you may sing or may say!" Then the first cavalier sung: "My pretty red rose, I'll love you and court you some day, I suppose!" And the next cavalier sung, with make-believe tears: "I've loved you! I've loved you these many long years!" But the third cavalier (with the brown, bushy head And the pretty blue jacket and necktie of red) He drew himself up with a resolute air, And he warbled: "O maiden, surpassingly fair! I've loved you long years, and I love you to-day, And, if you will let me, I'll love you for aye!" I (the third cavalier) sang this ditty to you, In my necktie of red and my jacket of blue; I'm sure you'll prefer the song that was mine And smile your approval on your valentine.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Three suitors arrive on Valentine's Day to serenade a young woman, but it's only the third one — the poem's speaker — who professes a love that has endured and remains vibrant today. By the poem's conclusion, the speaker sheds the storytelling pretense and reveals himself as that third suitor, inviting the woman to be his valentine. This charming and playful love poem employs a fairy-tale framework to deliver a heartfelt romantic confession.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. There were three cavaliers, all handsome and true, / On Valentine's day came a maiden to woo,

    Editor's note

    Field opens like a folk tale or ballad, featuring the classic "rule of three" setup. On Valentine's Day, three suitors come to court a young woman. The term "cavaliers," which means gallant gentlemen, instantly creates a playful, old-fashioned romantic vibe.

  2. Your mother replied: "I'll be pleased to convey / To my daughter what things you may sing or may say!"

    Editor's note

    The mother is a gatekeeper, which nods to the social customs of the Victorian era when a young woman's suitors had to approach her parents first. This detail also brings a touch of humor—suitors must pitch their songs to Mom before they can get to the girl.

  3. Then the first cavalier sung: "My pretty red rose, / I'll love you and court you some day, I suppose!"

    Editor's note

    The first suitor's declaration comes off as intentionally weak. "Some day, I suppose" feels vague and noncommittal — he can’t even promise to love her, just that he might get to it eventually. Field is creating a contrast, illustrating what *not* to say to someone you love.

  4. And the next cavalier sung, with make-believe tears: / "I've loved you! I've loved you these many long years!"

    Editor's note

    The second suitor goes overboard—he insists on a long, passionate history, but those tears are just "make-believe," revealing that his emotions are acted rather than authentic. He's filled with past tense and drama, but there's nothing real behind it.

  5. But the third cavalier (with the brown, bushy head / And the pretty blue jacket and necktie of red)

    Editor's note

    The "but" marks a shift in tone. Field describes the third suitor with endearing physical traits — the bushy hair, the blue jacket, and the red necktie. These details bring him to life and set him apart, unlike the first two who seemed nearly the same. Readers who know Field's self-deprecating humor would probably see this as a reflection of himself.

  6. He drew himself up with a resolute air, / And he warbled: "O maiden, surpassingly fair!

    Editor's note

    The third suitor stands tall and sings with confidence. His declaration addresses the mistakes of the others: he speaks of a long-standing love *and* a current love, while also offering a hopeful promise — "I'll love you for aye" (which means forever). It's the whole package: past, present, and future.

  7. I (the third cavalier) sang this ditty to you, / In my necktie of red and my jacket of blue;

    Editor's note

    Here, Field completely abandons the fairy-tale frame. The speaker steps forward and confesses that he is the third cavalier — the poem itself serves as the serenade. The repeated physical details of the jacket and necktie ground the fantasy in something personal and tangible. Ultimately, the entire story functions as a Valentine's card in disguise.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

Warm, playful, and subtly self-assured. Field maintains a light tone with a folk-tale structure and a hint of self-mockery. Yet, beneath the playful surface lies a sincere romantic tenderness. It avoids sentimentality, thanks to the humor that keeps it rooted.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The three cavaliers
A classic folk-tale device allows Field to compare three types of love: the half-hearted, the performative, and the genuine. By the end, these "three" merge into one — the speaker himself.
The red necktie and blue jacket
These specific clothing details act like a signature. They help make the speaker both recognizable and authentic. When they appear again in the final stanza, it's the moment the mask slips away—the storyteller and the suitor are revealed to be the same person.
Valentine's Day
More than just a date on the calendar, it shapes the entire poem as a formal expression of love. The holiday allows the speaker to be bold and straightforward, something that everyday conversation might not permit.
The mother as gatekeeper
She embodies the social norms and formal rituals of Victorian courtship. Her character brings a touch of gentle humor while also anchoring the poem in a familiar, real-world context.
"For aye"
The old-fashioned word for "forever" is the emotional high point of the third suitor's song. It lifts his declaration above the rest by stretching love beyond just the present into an endless future.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field wrote this poem in the late 1800s, a time when Valentine's Day had become popular for sending fancy cards and verses. While he's mostly remembered today for children's poems like "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod," Field was also a busy newspaper columnist and regularly dabbled in light romantic verse. The folk-tale format he employs here — featuring three suitors, a protective mother, and a lovely maiden — taps into a long-standing tradition of ballads and fairy tales that his audience would have instantly recognized. The poem is directed at a real woman named Barbara, giving it a personal touch rather than feeling like a public display. Field's choice to insert himself as the third suitor, including a description of himself, was a hallmark of his style: he often mixed autobiography with a playful touch in his lighter pieces.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

The poem is directed to a woman named Barbara, as indicated by the title. Field composed it as a personal Valentine, meaning "Mistress Barbara" was someone significant to him, although her precise identity remains unclear.

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Themes in this poem

Poems about hopePoems about identityPoems about lovePoems about time