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. Sonnet 29 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, 02. I all alone beweep my out-cast state, 03. And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, 04. And look upon myself and curse my fate, 05. Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, 06. Featur'd like him, like him with friends possessed, 07. Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, 08. With what I most enjoy contented least, 09. Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, 10. Haply I think on thee, and then my state, 11. (Like to the Lark at break of day arising) 12. From sullen earth sings hymns at Heaven's gate, 13. For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings, 14. That then I scorn to change my state with Kings. |
. Sonnet 29 . (paraphrased) 01. As, in disfavor with the goddess of fortune, and looked down on by men, 02. I, all alone, lament my banishment, 03. And bother heedless heaven with my vain entreaties, 04. And look upon what I've become, and curse what fate has brought me to, 05. Wishing I was like those who have more plentiful hopes, and 06. (Better looking, like that fellow, or with friends of his own, like that other fellow, 07. Wishing I had that man's skill, and that man's opportunities,) 08. Least satisfied in what I would most enjoy; 09. Yet, while I think about such things, and almost loathe myself, 10. By cheerful good luck, I happen to think of you, and then my mood soars 11. (Like the Lark flying and singing at sunrise,) 12. From this lonely, melancholy earth, to sing songs of joy at such a heavenly entrance into my thoughts; 13. Because your sweet love, when I'm reminded of it, brings such splendid comfort to me, 14. That then, I disdainfully reject any idea of trading places with a king. |
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Sonnet 29 Gloss
L1: When = As. L1: disgrace = disfavor. L1: men's eyes - men look down on him. L2: beweep = lament. L2: out-cast state = banishment. L3: trouble = bother. L3: deaf = unhearing, heedless. L3: bootless = vain, unavailing. L3: cries = entreaties. L4: myself = what I am, what I've become. L4: fate = situation in which fate has put me. L5: rich in = plentifully endowed with. L6: Featur'd like = looking like. (Note, to the right.) L6: possessed = 'of his own.' L7: art = skill. L7: scope = opportunity. Range of possibilities. L8: contented = satisfied, supplied. L9: despising = loathing. "Looking down on" himself, the same as others do. L10: Haply - both cheerfully and luckily, a double meaning. L10: state - of his soul. The condition of his spirit (which is depressed.) 'Mood.' L11: Lark - the bird, which flies and sings at dawn. L12: sullen = lonely and melancholy. L12: earth = self - the Poet's body. (Note, to the right.) L12: hymns = songs of joy. L12: gate = entry. (Note, to the right.) L13: remembered = brought to mind. (When I'm) reminded. L13: wealth = splendid comfort. L14: scorn = disdainfully reject. |
Sonnet 29 Notes
Sonnet 29 is by Edward de Vere. (No matter what your teacher told you in school.) It's written to William Shakespeare, not by him. ------- L6: Featur'd like = looking like. In modern use, "feature" almost always refers to facial features, but in Shakespeare's time the word was also used for body shape in general. Here, the word may refer not only to being more handsome, but also being more attractively built. L12: earth = self - the Poet's body. The Poet sometimes used "earth" to mean the human body. See Sonnet 146 - "Poor soul, the center of my sinful earth..." It reflects the Biblical idea of God creating man from the dust. "Earth" would be literal for a real lark flying upward. Here, the lark is poetic, symbolic of the addressee making the Poet's spirits "soar," as the saying goes. L12: gate = entry. Compare 'Cymbeline' Act 2 scene 3 to the Sonnet lines 11 and 12: ~ Hark, hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings ~~~ This is a contrary usage of "gate," against what one would expect. The Poet is not speaking of entering Heaven, he is speaking of Heaven entering him. This "gate" is a coming in, an entry. The phrase, "at Heaven's gate" = when Heaven enters my soul, figuratively speaking. When the Poet thinks of the addressee, it's as if Heaven has entered his soul. Also, sunrise is implicitly likened to the entry of Heaven onto the scene, since the lark soars at sunrise. ------- The "lark" is the skylark (Alauda arvensis) which ranges across Europe and beyond. It's a ground nesting bird of open areas, meadows and heaths. It's traditionally known for singing at daybreak, although it sings at any time of day. The male birds have a habit of hovering and circling at an altitude of 50 to 100 yards, and singing for as long as 15 minutes. Since it's a small bird, the source of the sound can be hard to find, when the skylark hovers high in the air, even though it can be clearly heard. The skylark's song is quite variable, compared to most songbirds, and can include mimicry of other birds. |
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