This poem, written by Robert Herrick, consists of three stanzas. Each stanza consists of six and four lines. When viewed in general, this poem describes the perfection of women.
No fault in women, to refuse The offer which they most would chuse. —No fault: in women, to confess How tedious they are in their dress; —No fault in women, to lay on The tincture of vermilion;
In the first stanza, every odd line, there is an enjambment that intersects the next line. The author makes this cut in order to get the rhymes in each line. Examples are refuse-chuse, confess-dress, and lay on-vermilion.
Besides, in this stanza, women are depicted as innocent creatures (no fault in women). There is nothing wrong with a woman that could put her in the wrong position. Women are told as someone who doesn't even need to refuse the offer which they most would choose.
This part of poem seems to smack the people who have always dictated how women should dress, speak words, and behave properly and correctly as if women have many faults (How tedious they are in their dress).
And there to give the cheek a dye Of white, where Nature doth deny. —No fault in women, to make show Of largeness, when they're nothing so; When, true it is, the outside swells With inward buckram, little else.
Enjambment (cutting sentences to create rhymes) also occurs in this second stanza. In this stanza, women are again portrayed as perfect. It doesn't need to be corrected in any way anymore.
In the first and second lines, the sentence ---there to give the cheek a dye - Of white, where Nature doth deny--- seems to describe the condition of women who are forced to be perfect. In fact, they are perfect without having any change in the slightest.
In the third and fourth lines, the sentence --- to make show - Of largeness, when they're nothing so--- provides an illustration that women are capable and allowed to create a big show (something that may have an impact on many people) when they want it.
—No fault in women, though they be But seldom from suspicion free; —No fault in womankind at all, If they but slip, and never fall.
In the last stanza, women are still depicted as perfect figures. Nonetheless, they never escape the suspicion of imperfection. In fact, even if they fall, they can get up again. That is, when women make a mistake, they will be able to correct the mistake.
This poem contains a very strong concept of women empowerment. It can encourage women to believe that they are perfect and that they are sufficient to do whatever they want for the betterment of themselves and those around them. In fact, they are able to correct the fault if they make a mistake.
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