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The Sonnets and Other Poems

Page 33

by William Shakespeare


  outworn worn-out (clothing image)/eroded (suggests tombs or inscriptions)

  3 sometime formerly

  down-razed demolished, razed to the ground

  4 brass seen as the most durable of substances

  mortal rage death’s destructive fury or frenzy

  7 of from

  main sea

  8 Increasing … store i.e. each side alternately winning and losing, each loss being the other side’s gain

  store abundance

  9 interchange of state alternating conditions/exchanges of power and position/shifts within the political state

  10 state existence/a kingdom

  confounded to decay overthrown and ruined

  11 ruminate puns on ruin and “ruinate”

  1 Since i.e. since there is neither

  2 o’er-sways overrules

  3 with this rage against this violence

  hold a plea uphold an argument (legal metaphor)

  4 action power/lawsuit

  6 wrackful wrecking, destructive

  batt’ring bombarding repeatedly (as a means of breaching defenses)

  10 from somewhere other than

  Time’s chest i.e. age and death; the treasure chest will become a coffin

  12 spoil goods (seized during war)/destruction, pillaging

  1 all these i.e. the following

  2 desert … born merit born in poverty

  3 needy … jollity worthlessness adorned with finery

  4 purest … forsworn the most solemn oaths broken/the betrayal of those who have kept their half of a mutual vow

  5 gilded golden

  6 rudely strumpeted crudely prostituted/coarsely slandered (for promiscuity)

  7 right true, absolute

  8 limping sway crippled authority, weak leadership

  9 art scholarship/literature

  10 doctor-like in a knowledgeable manner

  11 simplicity stupidity

  12 attending in service to

  14 to i.e. were I to

  1 wherefore why

  infection moral corruption

  2 grace impiety make sin attractive

  3 by through

  advantage profit, social advancement

  4 lace adorn (as with a lace trimming)

  society company

  5 false painting use of cosmetics/portraiture

  6 dead seeing a lifeless appearance

  of from

  hue complexion

  7 poor inferior

  8 Roses of shadow imitation roses

  9 Nature bankrupt is i.e. because she has given all her riches to the young man

  10 lively living

  11 exchequer treasury

  12 proud of many although boasting of her many creations/proud of the young man’s many attributes

  gains profits

  13 stores preserves, hoards

  1 Thus the argument continues from Sonnet 67

  map image/epitome/record

  days outworn times past

  3 bastard … fair false appearances of beauty (i.e. cosmetics)

  born sustains the image of illegitimate children, but also puns on “borne,” i.e. worn, displayed

  4 durst inhabit dared live

  5 golden … dead wigs were often made from the hair of corpses (golden hair was particularly favored)

  6 sepulchres tombs

  8 gay attractive, bright

  9 holy antique hours blessed ancient times

  14 of yore in the past

  1 parts personal features

  2 Want lack

  the … mend heartfelt thoughts can improve on

  4 even … commend that even your enemies are obliged to express approval of

  5 Thy outward your appearance

  with outward with public

  6 thine own what is due to you

  7 accents words/tones

  confound overthrow, ruin

  10 in guess by conjecture

  11 churls villains

  12 rank rotten, loathsome

  14 soil solution (with possible play on sense of contamination)

  common vulgar/promiscuous (like a weed that grows everywhere)

  1 blamed censured, criticized

  defect fault

  2 mark target

  3 The … suspect beauty is always accompanied by (literally “adorned with”) suspicion

  4 crow a bird associated with malice and evil

  5 So thou be as long as you are

  approve prove

  7 canker the canker-worm, a parasitic grub that destroys plants

  8 unstainèd blameless/unfaded

  prime youth/ springtime

  9 ambush … days dangers that lie in wait for the young

  10 assailed attacked (with overtones of seduction)

  victor being charged the winner if assaulted

  11 so sufficiently

  12 tie … enlarged restrict envy, which is always at liberty

  13 suspect of ill suspicion of wrongdoing

  masked overshadowed

  14 shouldst owe would possess

  2 sullen gloomy/of deep, mournful sound

  bell the passing bell that tolled for the dead

  8 make you woe cause you sorrow

  10 compounded mixed

  11 rehearse utter, repeat

  13 look … moan probe the cause of your sorrow

  14 with me on my account

  1 task challenge

  recite describe, give an account of

  8 niggard miserly

  10 for … untrue out of love praise me undeservedly

  13 that … forth i.e. his poetry

  14 should you i.e. be ashamed

  4 choirs the branches are compared to chancels (choirs), the parts of churches reserved for singers

  late recently

  8 Death’s second self i.e. night and, by extension, sleep

  seals … rest seals people up in sleep as if in a coffin/shuts people’s eyes as a young hawk’s eyelids are “seeled” (i.e. sewn shut for training purposes)

  12 Consumed … by i.e. the fire is smothered by the ashes of the substance on which it fed

  14 that i.e. the poet (and perhaps life/youth)

  leave lose/give up

  1 But the argument continues from Sonnet 73

  fell cruel/deadly

  arrest death is seen as an officer taking men away to prison

  3 line i.e. verse

  interest right of possession or occupation (legal sense)

  4 for memorial as a reminder/monument

  still always

  5 reviewest look over, read

  6 consecrate solemnly dedicated

  11 coward cowardly

  wretch’s knife the knife wielded by an assassin (perhaps Death himself), or one used by a suicide

  12 base worthless

  13 of that i.e. of the body

  14 this i.e. the poem (which contains the poet’s spirit)

  2 sweet-seasoned springtime/sweetly flavored

  3 for … you for the sake of the peace which you bring me (peace puns on “piece” to continue the food imagery)

  hold such strife engage in such conflict

  4 ’twixt between

  5 anon immediately

  6 Doubting fearing

  filching thieving

  7 counting considering (it); also suggestive of counting money

  8 bettered thinking it even better

  10 clean utterly

  13 pine starve

  surfeit overindulge (in food)

  14 Or … or either … or

  all away having nothing

  1 pride adornment

  4 compounds strange new compound words/new or different literary styles

  5 all one in the same way

  6 invention creativity/literary composition

  noted weed well-known garment (the clothing imagery is maintained in dressing)

  8 did proceed came from

  10 argument subject mat
ter

  14 telling relating/counting over (picking up on financial imagery in spending)

  1 glass mirror

  wear endure/wear out

  2 dial clock/sundial

  3 vacant leaves empty pages (this book may suggest that the poem was given along with a blank notebook)

  thy mind’s imprint i.e. written thoughts and feelings

  4 learning i.e. the profit derived from recording one’s thoughts

  6 Of … memory will serve as a reminder of open graves

  7 shady stealth faintly perceptible movement/slowly moving shadow (perhaps suggestive of a sundial; stealth has connotations of “sneaky, thievish”)

  10 waste blanks empty pages

  11 children i.e. thoughts, born of the brain and nurtured by being recorded

  12 To … of ready to be reintroduced to

  13 offices duties

  1 Muse inspiring goddess of poetry, or creative inspiration generally

  2 fair favorable

  3 As that

  alien stranger’s

  got my use adopted my practice (of taking the young man as inspiration)

  4 under thee under your influence

  5 on high loudly

  7 added feathers an image from falconry, referring to the adding of feathers to a bird’s damaged wing; improving a poet’s quill pen is also suggested

  8 grace excellence

  majesty glory, splendor

  9 compile compose, write

  11 mend improve

  style plays on the sense of “stylus,” i.e. old form of pen

  12 arts literary style

  gracèd be are given added charm and distinction

  13 thou … art all of my literary ability lies in you

  advance promote, elevate

  14 rude unpolished

  2 gentle grace refined elegance/noble favor

  3 gracious numbers elegant verses/ verses graced by your favor

  4 sick Muse failing inspiration

  doth … place is forced to make way for another (poet)

  5 thy lovely argument the lovely subject matter of you

  6 travail labor

  7 of thee about you

  invent become inspired by, write about

  11 afford offer/manage to pay

  1 faint lose heart

  2 better spirit superior, more inspired poet

  6 as as well as

  proudest grandest (with connotations of arrogance)

  7 saucy bark impertinent little boat

  8 main open sea

  wilfully perversely, stubbornly

  9 shallowest help slightest assistance— a small boat can float in shallower water

  10 soundless unfathomable

  12 tall building high structure

  goodly pride handsome splendor (but with connotations of arrogance)

  13 cast away shipwrecked/rejected

  14 my … decay my feelings were the cause of my ruin/the person I loved ruined me

  1 Or … Or whether … or (whichever of them survives the longer in flesh, the beloved will endure through the poet’s work)

  3 hence the world/the sonnet/henceforth

  4 in … part all of my attributes

  6 to … world to everyone, all posterity

  7 common ordinary/shared (such as paupers were buried in)

  9 monument tomb or other memorial structure

  gentle tender/noble

  11 to be of people not yet born

  your … rehearse shall recount your existence (rehearse puns on “re-hearse”—i.e. once again commemorate with funeral rites)

  12 all … world everyone alive in the world now

  13 still yet/always

  virtue power

  14 ev’n in the in the very

  1 grant concede

  Muse inspiring goddess of poetry, or creative inspiration generally

  2 attaint dishonor

  o’erlook read

  3 dedicated words devoted words/words used in a poem’s dedication to a particular individual

  4 blessing which words bless/which subject favors as a patron

  5 hue complexion, appearance

  6 limit past region beyond the scope of

  8 fresher stamp newer creation (stamp may suggest a newly printed book)

  the time-bett’ring days current improved times

  10 strainèd effortful/far-fetched, artificial

  11 truly sympathized depicted with true feeling/presented faithfully

  13 gross excessive/crass

  painting representation/ornamentation/cosmetics

  14 abused misused/unnecessary/wasted

  1 painting the argument continues from Sonnet 82

  2 fair beauty

  set applied

  4 barren tender worthless offer of repayment

  5 slept … report kept quiet about you

  6 That so that

  extant alive

  7 modern ordinary, commonplace

  come … grow fail to depict, in discussing your worth, the real worth that grows within you

  9 for my sin as a sin

  impute reckon, regard

  12 would wish to

  bring a tomb kill (by overpraising)

  14 both your poets i.e. Shakespeare and a rival/two rival poets

  1 which i.e. which poet (the theme continues from Sonnet 83)

  2 you … you you are unique

  3 immurèd enclosed, walled up

  store abundance (of qualities)

  4 example … grew provide a pattern on which to model your likeness

  5 penury poverty

  8 so … story thus elevates his writing

  9 but only

  11 such … wit such a reproduction will make his ingenuity famous

  14 Being … worse i.e. your eagerness for praise encourages flattery and thus debases the praise you receive/being so fond of praise is a weakness that undermines the praise you receive (alternatively, fond on praise may refer to an enjoyment of giving praise indiscriminately to others)

  1 Muse inspiring goddess of poetry, or creative inspiration generally

  in … still remains politely silent

  3 Reserve their character preserve their appearance (i.e. are written down)

  with golden quill i.e. in exquisite style—“aureate” (golden) also refers to a highly ornamental literary style

  4 filed polished

  6 unlettered clerk illiterate parish clerk (who assisted the priest in church by leading the responses to prayers)

  7 able spirit affords gifted poets provide

  12 holds … before maintains its position in the lead

  13 for … respect value others for the breath of words

  14 in effect through action

  2 prize rich booty

  3 inhearse bury

  5 spirit intellectual vigor/vital powers

  spirits supernatural inspiration/ghosts (of dead writers perhaps)

  6 pitch height (literally, the highest point in a falcon’s flight before it swoops to attack)

  struck me dead rendered me dumbstruck

  7 compeers associates

  8 astonishèd stunned into silence

  9 affable familiar ghost kindly attendant spirit

  10 gulls deceives

  intelligence information

  13 countenance face/approval

  filled up occupied, served as subject matter for/repaired, filled in (giving line a suggestion of “crack”)

  line i.e. the rival poet’s lines of verse; possible play on the additional sense of “ship,” picking up the nautical imagery at the start of the poem

  14 matter subject matter/substance (with which to fill in a flaw)

  1 dear expensive (with play on the sense of “beloved”)

  2 estimate worth

  3 charter … worth privilege that results from your merit

  releasing freedom/legal dispensation from contractual obligations (charter also has the sense of “legal document relat
ing to the transference of property”)

  4 bonds ties/legal agreements

  determinate terminated (legal term relating to the cessation of tenancy)

  7 cause of justification for receiving

  wanting lacking

  8 patent right of ownership

  back … swerving is reverting to you

  11 upon misprision growing coming from a misunderstanding

  14 no such matter nothing of the kind

  1 set me light value me little

  2 place … scorn look scornfully at my worth (or cause others to do so)

  4 forsworn perjured, one who has broken their word

  6 Upon thy part on your side, on your behalf

  7 attainted dishonored/convicted (or, rarely, “accused”)

  8 That so that

  10 bending directing

  12 vantage advantage

  double-vantage doubly benefit

  14 bear all wrong endure all hardship/take responsibility for all wrongdoing/behave wrongfully (toward myself)

  1 forsake abandon

  2 comment upon expand on, give details of

  3 halt limp

  6 To … change in order to make your desire to leave me look justifiable and acceptable

  8 I … strange I will completely suppress my familiarity with you and treat you like a stranger

  9 thy walks the places where you habitually walk

  12 haply perhaps

  13 vow debate commit myself to conflict

  1 Then follows on from Sonnet 89

  2 bent determined

  cross thwart

  4 drop … after-loss fall upon (me) for further injury in the future

  5 scaped escaped

  6 Come … woe a military metaphor—“come along behind an army (woe) that I have managed to defeat”

  8 linger … overthrow prolong a planned defeat

  11 onset initial assault

  13 strains varieties

  1 glory exult, take pride

  3 new-fangled ill highly fashionable but ugly

  5 humour mood/temperament

  adjunct corresponding

  7 measure standard (of happiness)

  8 better outdo

  10 prouder … cost more splendid than costly garments/higher than the cost of garments

  1 But continues the argument from Sonnet 91

  2 term of life (my) lifetime

  5 worst of wrongs worst injury (i.e. being entirely abandoned by his lover)

  6 in … end the least slight or hint of a rebuff will kill me

  8 humour mood

  10 on … lie lies at the mercy of your change of mind

  11 happy joyous/fortunate

  title entitlement

  13 blessèd-fair fortunately happy (fair also suggests “flawless/pale”)

  blot blemish, stain

  14 false unfaithful

  1 So the argument continues from Sonnet 92

  2 love’s face the appearance of love

 

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