Question

Read these lines from "The Flea" by John Donne and answer the questions that follow: Mark but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is; Me it sucked first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be; Thou know'st that this cannot be said A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead; And pampered swells with one blood made of two; And this, alas, is more than we would do.

Rewrite the lines in a plain style that is easy to understand.

Answer 1

Mark but this flea, and mark in this,

Look at what this flea represents,

How little that which thou deniest me is;

You won't give in to such a small union;

Me it sucked first, and now sucks thee,

The flea sucked both our blood,

And in this flea our two bloods mingled be;

Our blood is mixed in the flea;

Thou know'st that this cannot be said

A sin, or shame, or loss of maidenhead;

You can agree that the flea has not done anything wrong or shameful.

And pampered swells with one blood made of two;

And this, alas, is more than we would do.

The flea is free to enjoy both of our blood, and it is indulging more than we are.

Answer 2

Look at this flea and see how insignificant is what you have denied to me. It sucked my blood, then yours and in this flea, our blood has mixed. But this cannot be considered a sin or a loss of honor. The flea is swollen, filled with our blood and this is more than we would do.

Here, the poetic voice is comparing the flea and their blood mixing inside of it with sexual intercourse. He is implying that since their blood has been already mingled inside the flea, there is no sin or loss of honor if they have sexual relations.