Go to the Sonnets INTRO page
|
|
|
Go to the LIST of Sonnets page
Go to the Sonnets INTRO page |
|
. Sonnet 36 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Let me confess that we two must be twain, 02. Although our undivided loves are one: 03. So shall those blots that do with me remain, 04. Without thy help, by me be borne alone. 05. In our two loves there is but one respect, 06. Though in our lives a separable spite, 07. Which though it alter not love's sole effect, 08. Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love's delight. 09. I may not evermore acknowledge thee, 10. Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame, 11. Nor thou with public kindness honour me, 12. Unless thou take that honour from thy name: 13. But do not so, I love thee in such sort, 14. As thou being mine, mine is thy good report. |
. Sonnet 36 . (paraphrased) 01. I do confess that we two must, in fact, be two different men, 02. Although our united loves are one single sentiment; 03. So, those stigma that linger on me, shall remain with me, 04. To be borne by me, alone, without your help. 05. In our two loves there is only one mutual consideration, 06. Although, in our lives, there is a disgrace that separates us, 07. Which, although it doesn't alter love's effect of uniting us, 08. Yet, it does take away friendly hours of our love's enjoyment. 09. I cannot, in the future, acknowledge you, 10. Lest my regrettable state of disgrace should shame you, by association, 11. Nor may you, with acts of kindness in public, honor me, 12. Without taking that much honor from your own name, 13. But don't do that - I love you in such a way, 14. That since you're mine, I find my honor in your good reputation. |
|
Sonnet 36 Gloss
L1: twain = two different men, indeed. L2: undivided = united. L2: loves = deep and sincere friendships. L2: one = one single affection. L3: blots = stigma. Taints; disgraces. L3: remain = linger; abide. L5: respect = consideration; mutual regard. L6: separable = causing separation. L6: spite = disgrace. L7: sole effect = effect of uniting us into one. L8: steal = take away. L8: sweet = friendly; enjoyable. L9: ever-more = in the future. L10: bewailed = regretted; regrettable. L10: guilt = offense. (Not against the addressee.) Can be understood as 'state of disgrace.' L10: shame - By association. L12: name = reputation. L13: do not so = don't do that (take honor from your name.) L13: in such sort = in such a way. L14: (the second) mine = my honor. L14: report = reputation. |
Sonnet 36 Notes
Sonnet 36 is from Edward de Vere to William Shakespeare. They wrote very much alike, but not exactly. This Vere Sonnet has the minor flaw of using "although" three times, including twice in the course of successive lines. That doesn't stick out much, but it is a poetic flaw. Shakespeare mostly avoided such flaws; he was the better writer. ------- |
| Go to: the LIST of Sonnets page -|- or -|- the Sonnets INTRO page | Back to: Sonnet 35 -|- or -|- Ahead to: Sonnet 37 |
|
Go to the |
The Shakespeare Sonnets, courtesy of:
|
See ALL the Sonnets on one long page. |