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. Sonnet 26 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage 02. Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit; 03. To thee I send this written embassage 04. To witness duty, not to show my wit. 05. Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine 06. May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it; 07. But that I hope some good conceit of thine 08. In thy soul's thought (all naked) will bestow it: 09. Till whatsoever star that guides my moving, 10. Points on me graciously with fair aspect, 11. And puts apparel on my tattered loving, 12. To show me worthy of their sweet respect, 13. Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee, 14. Till then, not show my head where thou mayst prove me. |
. Sonnet 26 . (paraphrased) 01. Lord whom I admire, and to whom, in service, 02. Your quality has intimately joined my duty; 03. I send, to you, this written "official greeting" 04. To show that I know my duty, (and not to show off my wit;) 05. Duty, to you, so great, that wit so poor as mine 06. Might make it seem of little value, to me, because I lack words to describe it; 07. Except, I hope that you will take this well, and 08. In your mood, honestly, and without embellishment, will "give it a home," 09. Until whichever star that guides my activity, 10. Leads me on, favorably, with good prospect, 11. And properly "dresses up" my "tattered" expressions of affection, 12. To display that I'm worthy of the stars', and your, kind regard. 13. Then I can proclaim, in a more suitable way, how I do admire you; 14. Until then, I'd be ashamed to show myself, where you would see and pass judgment on me. |
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Sonnet 26 Gloss
L1: Lord - Literally, the Sonnet is to a lord. L1: love = affectionate friendship. Love implies obligation. L1: vassalage = service. (Note, to the right.) L2: merit = quality. The word refers both to high social status, and mettle. L2: knit = joined intimately, combined. L3: embassage = an 'official message' carried by a messenger. The "official" tone is not facetious, it's serious. L4: witness = affirm, testify to. An "oath" - a solemn promise - is implied. L4: show = show off. L5: great = grand, splendid. L5: which = that. L5: poor = humble. (Note, to the right.) L6: bare - Literally 'plain,' 'simple,' thus implying 'of little value.' L6: wanting = lacking. L6: show = display, express. Describe. L7: But that = Except, used as a conjunction. L7: conceit = point of view. It's the idea of "take" used in a sentence such as, "what's your take on this subject?" L7: good conceit - Is a reference to the idea of "taking it well." L8: thought - (Note, to the right.) L8: all naked = unembellished, truly, honestly. (Note, to the right.) L8: bestow it = 'give it a home', figuratively speaking. L9: star - Has reference to astrology. (Note, to the right.) L9: moving = activity. L10: Points on me = shines their light on. Also, 'leads me on.' (Double meaning.) L10: graciously = blessedly, favorably. (Note, to the right.) L10: fair = good. More specifically, 'handsome.' L10: aspect - (Note, to the right.) L11: puts apparel on = 'dresses up'. L11: tattered = poor, unworthy. L11: loving = expression of love. L12: show = reveal. L12: sweet = kind. L12: their - (Note, to the right.) L12: respect = regard, esteem, courtesy. It offers wordplay, following "aspect." L13: boast = proclaim. L13: love = admire, cherish. L14: show my head = show myself. L14: prove = put to the test. Pass judgment on. |
Sonnet 26 Notes
Sonnet 26 is from William Shakespeare to Edward de Vere. It's the first Sonnet Shakespeare wrote to Vere. It dates from perhaps 1586. Shakespeare was an accomplished writer by that time, although not in publication, but he probably hadn't done much with sonnets yet. It's an extremely early Shakespeare Sonnet. It's possible it might be the first Sonnet Shakespeare wrote that was good enough for publication. Shakespeare had learned Vere wrote sonnets, and gave it a try, himself, to Vere. To beg. It's a request for assistance, from a poor, traveling player, to the great patron of his playing company. Thus: ~ My lord, I've served your playing company for a while now, and I think I've made a significant contribution to the quality of our performances, and also I've learned you write 14-line sonnets - well, so can I, as you see - but my best Sunday suit is threadbare, and if you saw me, you'd be ashamed to call me your servant, and I have a family to feed, so I was just wondering, if you have any spare change in your pocket..... ~~~ It's that kind of thing. It worked. Shakespeare got his lord's favor, such as Vere could provide. He earned more than spare change, he went on to earn Vere's lasting friendship. Shakespeare also went on, eventually, to earn everything worthwhile Vere ever wrote, to adapt, develop, enhance, and take to the public stage as he pleased. Talent will out. ------- L1: vassalage = service. Historically, "vassalage" was the status of a tenant landholder under obligation to a lord. Here, it goes along with the Poet being in actual service to the addressee. L5: poor = humble. The Poet was being a bit coy. As far as his writing goes, he knew he could write well. The term has a literal implication, however. The Poet is complaining, to his lord, about how poor he is. L8: thought This is an interestingly atypical usage of "thought," since the soul is typically, in the Poet's writing, taken to be the source of emotion, not intellect. It's the archaic use of "thought" to refer to mood. L8: all naked = unembellished, truly, honestly. The Poet desires his Sonnet to be understood for 'exactly what it is, or is intended to be.' The parenthetical phrase "all naked" has a double reference: it refers both to the Sonnet, itself, and also to the addressee's mood. Concerning the addressee's mood, the Poet is asking the addressee to view the Sonnet honestly, for what it's intended to be, and not to "dress it up" as something else. In reference to the Sonnet, itself, the Poet is likening his Sonnet to a new-born baby that needs a home. It's the concept of a writing being a "child" of the author. L9: star - Has reference to astrology. The coat of arms of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, had a star prominently displayed in the upper left quadrant. Shakespeare is asking whether Vere's "star" will be the one he'll follow, in future. He's wondering, because he's not doing well enough to continue for much longer in Vere's service. (Of course your teacher didn't tell you that in school.) L10: graciously = blessedly, favorably. It hints of saying grace, to express gratitude, so it can also be read, 'gratefully.' L10: aspect Primarily the astrological term 'aspect,' which refers to relative positions of planets as seen from earth. Nine such "aspects" are identified. If one wants to get technical, a "good aspect" is the semisextile, sextile, quintile, trine, or biquintile. "Bad aspects" are the semisquare, square, sesquiquadrate, and opposition. As far as that goes, the main thing is probably that the Poet is hoping for no "opposition" in his desire to do better. "Fair aspect" is read in ordinary English as 'good prospect' or 'handsome prospect.' L12: their "Their" is the word in the original publication of 1609, and it is certainly correct. It's used because the subject is not the word "star" in line 9, it is "the stars." Shakespeare meant gaining the respect of "the stars," plural. Interpreters who don't understand the Sonnets will change it to "thy," but that's wrong. |
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