Need help on the poem called The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd?

Question

What does the speaker mean in this line from the poem?
But could youth last and love still breed....
a) As people get older, love fades
b) Young people do not know the meanining of love.
C) Love will outlast time
D) only young people are able to love completeley

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

The meaning is a) As people get older, love fades. The Nymph is telling the Shepherd that even though he is promising all of those nice things now, time will pass and it won't be as important. The nympgh is basically saying "If this were true, then I'd waste my time living with you... Too bad it isn't."
Have you read "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love?" because this poem is actually a reply in which the nymph declines the shepherd's offer.

Edit- I just thought, that perhaps it could also be d, and the nymph could be insinuating that in the folly of youth, love is possible... but once people age, they become wiser and understand that love is impossible.

Source(s):

http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/shepherd/…
Just analyzed these poems in school awhile ago.

Answer 2

the answer is letter "C" because it says that who cares if you get older you will still love the one's you loved before.