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. Sonnet 17 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Who will believe my verse in time to come 02. If it were filled with your most high deserts? 03. Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb 04. Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts: 05. If I could write the beauty of your eyes, 06. And in fresh numbers number all your graces, 07. The age to come would say this Poet lies, 08. Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces. 09. So should my papers (yellowed with their age) 10. Be scorn'd, like old men of less truth than tongue, 11. And your true rights be termed a Poet's rage, 12. And stretched meter of an antique song. 13. But were some child of yours alive that time, 14. You should live twice in it, and in my rhyme. |
. Sonnet 17 . (paraphrased) 01. Who would believe my verse, in time to come, 02. If it were filled with your most highly deserved praise? 03. Although, heaven knows, my verse is only like a monument 04. Which obscures your true life, and shows not half your qualities; 05. If I could write, to paint with words, the beauty of your eyes, 06. And in new, original verses count up all your favors, 07. The ages to come would say, this Poet lies, 08. Such divine touches never appeared on mortal faces. 09. Thus would my writings (when they're yellowed from age) 10. Be scorned, like old men who make up stories, 11. And descriptions that truly do you justice would be called a Poet's madness, 12. And the exaggerated lines of a legend. 13. But if some child of yours were alive at that time, 14. You would live twice: in it, and in my rhyme. |
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Sonnet 17 Gloss
L1: will = would. L2: deserts = prerogatives, things to which you're entitled. "High deserts" can be read 'highly deserved praise.' L3: Though yet = although. L3: but = only. L3: as = like. L3: tomb = monument. L4: hides = obscures. L4: life = true life. L4: parts - Refers to the idea of being a "man of parts," a person of many qualities. L5: write = draw or paint with words. L6: fresh = original, new. L6: numbers = verses. L6: number = count, list. 'Count up.' L6: graces = favors. The superlative features that God has bestowed upon you. Charming features. L8: heavenly = divine. L8: touches = features. L8: touched = appeared on; were drawn on. L8: earthly = mortal. L9: should = would. "Should" is used to convey the imperative. L10: tongue = speech. L11: rights = descriptions that would do you justice. L11: rage = madness, excess of emotion. L12: stretched = exaggerated. L12: meter = poetic lines. L12: antique song = legend - the kind written in verse. Legends are understood to be exaggerated and embellished. L13: that = at that. |
Sonnet 17 Notes
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