The Sonnets and Other Poems (52 page)
Read The Sonnets and Other Poems Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
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 matter
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