Read The Sonnets and Other Poems Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
The Sonnets and Other Poems (48 page)
12
gold candles
i.e. stars
13
hearsay
rumor, secondhand information
14
purpose
intend
1
glass
mirror
2
one date
the same age
3
furrows
i.e. wrinkles
4
look I
I expect
expiate
end
6
raiment
clothing
7
in … me
refers to the popular poetic concept of lovers exchanging hearts
9
be … wary
take good care of yourself
11
chary
carefully
13
Presume … heart
do not expect to receive your heart back
1
unperfect
not word-perfect
2
with … part
forgets his lines out of stage fright
3
replete
filled
5
for … trust
from lack of confidence/for fear of not being trusted
6
perfect … rite
correct words that make up the rituals of love (
rite
puns on “right,” i.e. what is owed to a lover)
8
O’ercharged
overloaded
might
strength
9
books
i.e. writings (the sonnets)
10
presagers
indicators/announcers (to create an oxymoron with
dumb
)
breast
heart
11
Who
i.e.
my books
12
that tongue
i.e. the tongue of some other person
14
fine wit
sharp intelligence and understanding
1
stelled
portrayed, delineated
2
table
flat board on which a picture is painted
3
frame
picture frame, but plays on the sense of “body”
4
perspective
type of painting in which the image appeared distorted (or different) until it was viewed from a particular angle
5
through
i.e. in the work of/by looking into the eyes of
7
shop
can mean “workshop”
still
forever
8
That … eyes
i.e. the young man stares into the poet’s eyes (
windows
), where his own are reflected
13
this cunning want
lack this skill
14
know
understand, see into
2
of
from
3
triumph
exultation
4
Unlooked for
unexpectedly/overlooked, disregarded
joy … most
take pleasure in what I consider most worthy of honor
5
leaves
petals
6
marigold
the bright orange-yellow flower was noted for opening its petals in response to the sun
7
in … burièd
i.e. without the sun, their splendor is lost (shut up within petals)
8
glory
magnificence/brightness
9
painful
suffering pain
famousèd
made famous
might
the Quarto text has “worth” here, but the failure to rhyme with
quite
has caused most editors to emend to
might
(or “fight”); some retain “worth” and emend
quite
to “forth”
10
foiled
defeated
11
razèd
erased
14
remove
move away (i.e. be unfaithful)
1
vassalage
total service and allegiance (feudal term)
2
knit
bound
3
ambassage
formal message
4
witness
bear witness to
wit
intelligence/ingenuity
6
wanting
lacking
7
some … it
some clever poetic device that you think up will embellish my plain expression of duty/some favorable opinion of yours will cause you to lodge my vulnerable duty in your soul
9
moving
life and fortunes
10
fair aspect
favorable influence (astrological term)
14
prove me
put me to the test
2
dear
precious
travel
plays on the sense of “travail” (hard work)
5
far
i.e. far away from you
6
Intend
proceed on/devote themselves toward
10
shadow
image/ghost
11
Which
i.e. which shadow
ghastly
frightening/ghostly
14
For
on account of
1
How … then
the argument continues from Sonnet 27
plight
state, condition
3
oppression
the oppressive
toil
mentioned in Sonnet 27
6
shake hands
make a pact
7
the … complain
night by causing me to complain
10
dost him grace
i.e. by shining in the sun’s place
11
swart-complexioned
black-faced
12
twire
twinkle/peep out
gild’st the even
make the evening glitter
1
in disgrace
out of favor
2
beweep
weep about
3
bootless
useless
6
Featured … possessed
having the looks of one man and the friends of another
7
art
skill/learning
scope
freedom
8
With … least
least satisfied with what I have most of
10
Haply
perhaps/ by good fortune (puns on “happily”)
state
i.e. state of mind
12
sullen
dark/melancholy
14
change
exchange
1
sessions … summon
the metaphor is of a law court, to which thoughts are summoned as witnesses
3
sigh
sigh at
4
new wail
lament anew
dear
valuable (as in line 13)
5
flow
i.e. weep
6
dateless
endless
7
cancelled
rendered invalid (another legal term)
8
th’expense
the loss
9
grievances foregone
past sorrows
10
heavily
sorrowfully
tell o’er
add up/relate
11
account
financial account/narrative (the financial metaphor is maintained with
pay
and
dear
)
fore-bemoanèd moan
griefs lamented in the past
1
Thy … dead
i.e. the qualities and affections of dead friends live on in the young man (but there is also the suggestion that the poet has been deserted by his friends or lovers in favor of the young man)
bosom
heart
endearèd with
loved by/made more valuable by
2
lacking
not having, missing
3
parts
attributes
5
obsequious
funereal, mourning
6
dear
tender, heartfelt
religious
reverent/conscientious
7
interest
financial interest (owed to the
dead
)
8
removed
moved elsewhere
there
i.e. in the young man’s
bosom
10
trophies
spoils, memorials, relics
11
all … give
gave all their shares in me to you
12
That due of
that which was owed to
13
I loved
which I loved
14
And … me
and you, who are all of them, have all of me
1
my well-contented day
the day of my death, which I welcome/the day when I shall pay all my debts (to nature)
2
churl
base villain/miser
3
fortune
chance/good fortune
4
rude
unpolished
5
bett’ring … time
superior work subsequently being produced
7
Reserve
preserve, keep
rhyme
poetic qualities
8
height
i.e. height of achievement
happier
more fortunate, talented
9
vouchsafe
deign to bestow upon me
10
Muse
inspiration/skill
11
dearer birth
i.e. better literary creation
12
march … equipage
a military metaphor, literally “march among ranks of better equipped soldiers”—i.e. be in the company of more sophisticated
poets
4
alchemy
the power to turn base metals into gold
5
Anon
soon
basest
lowliest/darkest
6
rack
mass of clouds driven by the wind (puns on “wrack,” i.e. wreck)
7
visage
face
10
all-triumphant
glorious
11
out, alack
alas
12
region cloud
cloud of the upper air
13
no whit
in no way, not at all
14
Suns … world
earthly kings (but also puns on “sons of the world,” i.e. ordinary mortals)
stain
become stained, lose brightness/become dishonored
1
thou
i.e. the sun; continuing the theme of Sonnet 33, the young man’s deception is addressed through weather imagery
4
brav’ry
splendor
rotten smoke
unhealthy vapors (clouds were believed to carry disease)
7
salve
soothing ointment
8
disgrace
affront/ disfigurement (i.e. scar)
9
physic
medicine
12
cross
affliction
14
ransom
pay, atone for
3
stain
darken (also implying moral corruption)
4
canker
cankerworm, a parasitic grub that destroys plants
6
Authorizing … compare
justifying your misdeeds by making comparisons
7
corrupting
compromising morally (plays on the sense of “infecting”)