The Speaker

The poem is narrated by an anonymous and relatively nondescript man. We know that he is intelligent (from his use of elevated language and his many literary references) and erotically drawn to the woman he describes. We know he is male from the last line. Other than that, the details of his appearance, character, or personality remain a mystery, allowing the reader to remain focused on the poem's central subject, the woman.

The Mistress

The poem is dedicated almost entirely to a detailed physical description of a beautiful woman. She is described as the speaker's "mistress," which implies that they are lovers already, or at least that they have a longstanding romantic relationship. The poem does not give much description of her personality, or even particular features. Instead, it speaks of the power that she has over the speaker, of the profound way that her beauty has...