"The Constant Lover" is a poem by Sir John Suckling. Suckling's intent in this poem was to amuse the audience. He did this by sort of poking fun at love. For most people, love is a very serious subject. Suckling's view on love seems to be a bit teasing. In the time the poem was written, (17th Century) love was a very common theme with poets.
             "The Constant Lover" is about a man who has been in love for three days, and thinks that he may still be in love for three more days, but only if things continue going the way he wants. The speaker states, "Out upon it! I have Loved for three whole days together;/ And am like to love three more, If it prove fair weather". The speaker's loyalty to his beloved does not seem very strong since it depends on an uncomplicated relationship. Most relationships are complicated at some time or another; even the good ones. In the second stanza, the speaker states, "Ere he shall discover/ In the whole wide world again/ Such a constant lover". The speaker is saying that if a more constant lover than he could be discovered, that time would stop. The speaker's claim is ironic because three days is not a long time to be in love with someone. The speaker's focus on the woman's beauty reveals how shallow he is when he states, "Had it been but she, And that very face, There had been at least ere this/ A dozen in her place." The speaker states his love is the reason that he's been faithful. The only reason for his faithfulness to her is because her beauty has kept his interest. This shows how superficial the speaker really is. To truly love someone, you must love who he or she are on the inside and the outside. One doesn't love a person just because they are beautiful.
             The speaker has been in love for three days, and only expects to still be in love only if things continue to go his way. The speaker states t...