The unnamed first-person narrator of the poem serves as an urgent, passionate suitor. He utilizes logical syllogisms and vast geographical references to persuade his beloved to consummate their relationship. His intense awareness of mortality, visualized as a winged chariot hurrying near, fuels his desire to bypass traditional courtship delays and seize the present moment.

The silent addressee of the poem is an unnamed lady who plays hard to get. In the speaker's hypothetical scenario, she wanders by the Indian Ganges River finding rubies while keeping her suitor at a distance. She protects her honor and virginity, preferring a lengthy, traditional courtship over immediate physical passion.