The theme of rejected love is more implied than stated in the poem. From the persona's tone and tone of language use as he pleads, coaxes and threatens which suggest a rejection of his love by his mistress. The persona conjures so many images to ease his mistress's tears by suggesting that time and distance are not of the essence in their love relationship. The mistress does not appear to be moved. He invokes the specter of death to make mistress accept his advances. Candidates performed poorly in this question.