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. Sonnet 25 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Let those who are in favor with their stars, 02. Of public honour and proud titles boast, 03. Whilst I whom fortune of such triumph bars 04. Unlooked for joy in that I honour most; 05. Great Princes' favourites their fair leaves spread, 06. But as the Marigold at the sun's eye, 07. And in themselves their pride lies buried, 08. For at a frown they in their glory die. 09. The painful warrior famoused for worth, 10. After a thousand victories once foiled, 11. Is from the book of honour 'rased quite, [ 12. And all the rest forgot for which he toiled: 13. Then happy I that love and am beloved 14. Where I may not remove, nor be removed. |
. Sonnet 25 . (paraphrased) 01. Let those who have been favored with better fortune than I've had 02. Boast about their public honors, and their noble titles, 03. While I, prevented from such public display by bad luck, and 04. Left unregarded, take joy in what I honour most; 05. Monarch's favorites may display their handsome honors, 06. Only like the marigold flower following the sun, 07. While within themselves, their dignity lies buried, 08. Since, at a frown from the monarch, they wither in all their glory. 09. The warrior who has faced hazards, and is famed for quality, 10. After a thousand victories, when he is once foiled, 11. Is, from the book of honour, entirely erased, forever 12. And everything is forgotten, for which he toiled: 13. Then, it makes me happy, that I love, and am loved, 14. Where I may not disappear, or be banished. |
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Sonnet 25 Gloss
L1: stars = planets. A reference to astrology. L2: proud = noble. L3: fortune: luck. (Bad in this case.) L3: triumph = public display. L4: Unlooked for = unregarded. L4: that = what. L5: Great Princes' = Monarch's. L5: fair = attractive to view. L5: leaves - (Note, to the right.) L5: spread - (Note, to the right.) L6: But as = Only like. L6: Marigold = the marigold flower. (Note, to the right.) L6: at = reacting to. L6: sun's eye = sun's gaze. (Note, to the right.) L7: themselves = their own "earth." (Note, to the right.) L7: pride = dignity. L7: lies - Via pun, there's an implication of a person lying to himself. L7: buried = hidden. (Note, to the right.) L8: frown = sign of displeasure (from the monarch.) L8: glory - Can be read literally, or understood as 'renown' or 'magnificence.' L8: die = wither. (Note, to the right.) L9: painful - (Note, to the right.) L9: famoused = famed. L9: worth = quality. L9 & L11: - (Note, to the right.) L10: foiled = balked, thwarted. Defeated. L11: 'rased = erased. (Note, to the right.) L12: all the rest = everything except his defeat (is forgotten.) L12: forgot = forgotten. L13: happy I = it makes me happy. L14: remove = depart, disappear, fade away. L14: removed = banished. |
Sonnet 25 Notes
Sonnet 25 is by Edward de Vere (no matter what else you've read, or been told.) It's mixed in with the Shakespeare Sonnets because Vere wrote it to Shakespeare, his good friend, and thus Shakespeare "inherited" it when Vere died. Being by Vere, may explain the imperfection of the rhyme, between lines 9 and 11. Perhaps he didn't bother, or was intentionally being unconventional, using the words he wanted whether they rhymed or not. (The lack of rhyme could also be a misprint, as noted below.) Sonnet 25 is an expression of mutual affection from Vere to Shakespeare. It's a different mind at work, but similar. A certain similarity of mind can be the basis of a close, enduring friendship. Vere served on the tribunal which convicted Mary, Queen of Scots to death. It isn't known how he cast his vote. ------- L5: leaves The word can be taken as literal, the leaves of a flourishing plant which enjoys special attention. It can also be taken to mean 'petals', a loose usage, in reference to the blossoming of a flower, in advance of "marigold." In anticipation of the mention of "book" in line 11, it can also be understood as the pages of a book. L5: spread For the plant concept, of "leaves," or "petals," it's taken literally, to mean 'display.' For the book concept of "leaves" it's taken to mean 'publicize.' Also, pages in the "book of honor" - line 11 - would be 'honors.' L6: Marigold = the marigold flower. The word was capitalized in the original printing, and spelled "Marygold." In anticipation of the word "buried" at the end of line 7, it allows speculation about a contemporary allusion to Mary, Queen of Scots. Also, in connection with the idea of "buried," buried gold would be buried treasure. L6: sun's eye = sun's gaze. Poetically, the sun is the great eye of heaven. Since the eye is used for looking, or gazing, the phrase can be read as the 'sun's gaze.' In connection with "Prince" in line 5, the sun is a classical symbol of royalty. L7: themselves = their own "earth." Poetically, one's body is one's personal "earth." See, for example, Sonnet 146: "Poor soul, the center of my sinful earth" L7: buried = hidden. The usage is figurative in reference to a person's body. It would be literal in reference to the ground, of course. L8: die = wither. "Die" is figurative within the poem. If contemporary reference to Mary, Queen of Scots, is intended in line 6, it would be literal for that. L9: painful This is a rather paradoxical, or contrary use of the word, against what one would expect. It refers to a warrior who has suffered pain, or faced pain. It also indicates one who has taken pains, to perform well. It can be understood as meaning a warrior who has suffered hardship and faced hazards. L9 & L11: The last words of these lines should rhyme, according to the standard pattern of such sonnets. Based on that, it's usually assumed that the word at the end of one of the lines must be a misprint in the original printing. However, it is entirely possible the Sonnet is simply not intended to have a perfect rhyme scheme. Because that possibility does exist, it's necessary to deal with the Sonnet exactly as it was printed. The printed wording does make good sense. If a printing error did exist, I suggest line 11 should end with "forth" (in place of "quite.) I indicate that possibility in the Sonnet with the word "forth" in square brackets, with a double question mark. The reader must understand this is only an editorial suggestion, and it may be that the original printing does not have any error. The word "forth" would mean, 'from that time forward, forever.' L11: 'rased = erased. This word is printed "rased" in the original. In modern reprints it seems to be generally taken as 'razed', for some strange reason, However, it is obviously the word "erased" with the initial 'e-' apostrophized. One "erases" entries from a book, of course. |
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