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. Sonnet 24 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Mine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stelled, [sp "steeld"] 02. Thy beauty's form in table of my heart, 03. My body is the frame wherein 'tis held, 04. And perspective it is the Painter's art. 05. For through the Painter must you see his skill, 06. To find where your true Image pictur'd lies, 07. Which in my bosom's shop is hanging still, 08. That hath his windows glazed with thine eyes: 09. Now see what good-turns eyes for eyes have done, 10. Mine eyes have drawn thy shape, and thine for me 11. Are windows to my breast, where-through the Sun 12. Delights to peep, to gaze therein on thee 13. Yet eyes this cunning want to grace their art 14. They draw but what they see, know not the heart. |
. Sonnet 24 . (paraphrased) 01. My eye has acted as a painter, and has placed 02. Your beauty's image on a panel in my heart; 03. My body, that you see, is only the frame that holds your picture, 04. And it, (the picture in my heart,) painted by my eye, is my point of view; 05. Therefore, to see the "Painter's" skill, you must look through my eyes, 06. To discover where your truly loved Image is kept, and where it might be right or wrong, 07. (An Image) Which is always hanging in the gallery of my heart, 08. (A gallery) Which has its windows glazed with your eyes, (so that when I look into your eyes, I "see" the love I hold for you in my own heart.) 09. Now see what favors my eyes have done for your eyes, and yours for mine: 10. My eyes have imaged your shape, in my heart, and your eyes, for me, 11. Are windows into my own heart, windows which let the sun 12. Shine in, to light and warm my heart, when I see your eyes; 13. Yet eyes alone, by themselves, lack the ability to adorn their "works of art;" 14. They image only what they see on the surface, and don't fathom the heart. (Therefore I must tell you, in this Sonnet, that I love you, since you can't tell just by looking.) |
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Sonnet 24 Gloss
L1: play'd = imitated, acted. L1: stelled = placed, set, fixed in place. The general idea of 'put.' (Note, to the right.) L2: form = image. L2: table = panel, or board. (Note, to the right.) L3: frame = picture frame. (Playing off the use of "frame" in reference to the human body.) L4: perspective = point of view. (Note, to the right.) L5: For = so; therefore. L5: the Painter = "mine eye," (as already stated in line 1.) (Note, to the right.) L6: find = discover. L6: true - to my love, truly loved. L6: lies = is kept; also, 'departs from truth.' (Note, to the right.) (Double meaning.) L7: shop = gallery. (Note, to the right.) L7: still = always. L9: good-turns = favors. L11: breast = heart. L13: eyes = eyes alone. L13: cunning = ability, ingenuity. L13: want = lack. L13: grace = adorn. L14: know = fathom. |
Sonnet 24 Notes
The conclusion is implicit, from the final couplet, that since eyes alone don't fathom the heart, the sentiments of the heart must be expressed in words, to be known - and therefore, this Sonnet, the expression of love, in words. Sonnet 24 is by William Shakespeare, probably to Edward de Vere. That's indicated by the idea of "favor" in the term 'good-turns' in line 9, for one thing, following Sonnet 26. (The original publication of the Sonnets does not have them in the order in which they were written.) Also, it was most usual in those days for nobles to have their portraits painted, by artisans. Other factors contribute further to the conclusion that the Sonnet is to Vere. ------- L1: stelled = placed, set, fixed in place. The general idea of 'put.' This word is apparently "stelled," judging by the rhyme word "held" at the end of line 3. However, the original printing shows "steeld," which looks more like "steeled." The word "steeled" makes excellent sense, when understood according to its old definition of 'mirrored', and it also puns with 'stealed' (i.e. 'stolen,') which makes sense in its broad meaning of 'take', which is how the Poet often used the word. "Steeled" would mean the Poet's eye has 'taken' and 'mirrored' the addressee's beauty. It is possible Shakespeare intentionally spelled "stelled" in a way that suggests "steeled," in order to bring in the additional relevant meanings mentioned: 'mirrored,' and 'took.' The non-standardized nature of Elizabethan spelling made special spellings possible, for the writer creative enough to do that. Hamlet, for example, contains numerous special spellings used to convey additional meanings, and so do the other plays and poems. It's worth noting, by appearance the word "stell" suggests "stellar," which would refer to a star. That impression makes "stell" compatible with the astrological references elsewhere in the Sonnets. (However, "stell" is from the same root as "stall," and is actually unrelated to "stellar," so there's only a similarity of form. But the word similarity does give the impression, for line 1: 'my eye has "starred" you' - so the similarity contributes additional poetic depth to the line.) L2: table = panel, or board. A panel on which a picture is painted was formerly called a "table." The word can further be understood as the 'records' the Poet keeps in his heart. In graphic art terms, a "table" is a 'perspective plane.' L4: perspective = point of view. Line 4 means, 'And it, (the picture in my heart,) the Painter's art, is my point of view.' The painter's art is "point of view." Then, written as it is, line 4 can also be read, in general terms, 'And point of view, it is the painter's art.' So, the line offers a double meaning, referring both to personal point of view, and to art in general. A further meaning, as well, can be found in line 4, by taking "perspective" literally, according to its root. In root meaning, from the Latin, 'perspective' = "look through." (This also anticipates the 'window glazing' idea in line 8 - the idea of "looking through" a window.) That is, for the "look through" concept, line 4 can be read: And "looking through" it is the Painter's art. Then, regarding Shakespeare, The Poet is the Painter. It becomes a statement that The Poet's art is to "look through" outward appearance, to see into the heart or soul. Indeed, Shakespeare had an "art" of that, of "looking through," or beyond, superficial appearances. L5: the Painter = "mine eye," (as already stated in line 1.) The Poet is saying in line 5, 'you would have to look through my eyes, to see "the Painter's" skill.' L6: lies = is kept; also, 'departs from truth.' (Double meaning.) If the addressee could look, at himself, through the Poet's eyes, he might think the image did not look like him. It's a truism that no two people see anything exactly the same way, including each other. L7: shop = gallery. Not intended to imply pictures for sale - the addressee's image is for the Poet to keep. |
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