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. Sonnet 48 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. How careful was I when I took my way, 02. Each trifle under truest bars to thrust, 03. That to my use it might un-used stay 04. From hands of falsehood, in sure wards of trust; 05. But thou, to whom my jewels trifles are, 06. Most worthy comfort, now my greatest grief, 07. Thou best of dearest, and mine only care, 08. Art left the prey of every vulgar thief. 09. Thee have I not locked up in any chest, 10. Save where thou art not, though I feel thou art, 11. Within the gentle closure of my breast, 12. From whence at pleasure thou mayst come and part; 13. And even thence thou wilt be stolen I fear, 14. For truth proves thievish for a prize so dear. |
. Sonnet 48 . (paraphrased) 01. How careful I was, when I took my leave, 02. To place each trivial material possession of mine under trustworthy locks, 03. So that in my own possession it might, untaken, be kept, and away 04. From the hands of thieves - under sure protection that can be relied upon; 05. But you, compared to whom my treasured material possessions are mere trifles, 06. My most noble supporter, are now my greatest worry; 07. You're the best of those I hold valuable, and you're my major concern, but 08. You could be the prey of any common thief, of affection; 09. I have not locked you up in any chest, 10. Except one where you really aren't, although I feel you are, 11. That "chest" being the gentle embrace of my breast, where my heart is, 12. But it's a place from which you might come and go at your pleasure, since I can't lock my heart, 13. And I fear you might be stolen even from my heart, 14. Since Honesty, itself, would be tempted by a prize as valuable as you are. |
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Sonnet 48 Gloss
L2: trifle - Literally, a small, unimportant thing. (Note, to the right.) L2: truest = most trustworthy. L2: bars = locks; bolts; barriers against access by others. L2: thrust = place. "Thrust" is used in the sense of pushing or pressing, it does not mean "shove." L3: to my use = in my possession. L3: un-used = untaken. (Note, to the right.) L3: stay = be kept. A double meaning, however. 'Remain.' 'Be kept away.' L4: hands of falsehood = untrustworthy persons. 'Hands of thieves.' Probably mostly a reference to plagiarists, where the Poet's writings were concerned. L4: wards = 'keepers.' Defenses. Protection. The ground enclosed by the wall of a castle was called a "ward;" thus, 'defended areas.' L4: of trust = that can be relied upon. L5: to whom - (Note, to the right.) L5: jewels = treasures. Probably mostly a reference to his writings, but not ruling out any jewelry he had. L5: trifles - (Note, to the right.) L6: worthy = noble. The word appears to indicate the addressee is an aristocratic patron of the author's work, but "high" praise of someone else is possible, particularly a wife. L6: comfort = support; reassurance. "Worthy comfort" = either 'noble supporter'; or, 'exalted source of strength.' L6: grief = worry. L7: best of dearest = best of those who are valuable to me. May be Mrs. Shakespeare. L7: only care = primary concern. L8: vulgar = common. L11: closure = embrace; an enclosed area. L14: truth = fidelity; honesty. (Note, to the right.) |
Sonnet 48 Notes
The addressee of Sonnet 48 is either a patron of the Poet's work, or his wife. It is not conclusive which. The interpretation with respect to Mrs. Shakespeare offers a direct explanation of his being away from his work, and away from at least some of his possessions. He would have been traveling from London to Stratford, with his wife on his mind. Shakespeare had enough talent that he could have written the Sonnet in a dual-use way, primarily about his wife, but worded so that it would work for a patron. There would be nothing unseemly in that, as long as it was a patron he respected. A working author has to make a living, to provide for his wife and family. This notion, about the possibility of a dual-use Sonnet, can only be a speculation, but might be worth mention, primarily because he did have the talent, and the Sonnet addressee is ambiguous. ------- L2: trifle - Literally, a small, unimportant thing. The term probably has reference, mostly, to the Poet's various writings. It was good manners in the Poet's day for an author to belittle the value of his writings, when he referred to them. The Poet would have been concerned about the possible theft of work he had done on plays, since plays were his occupation, but theft of poetry would also have been a worry. This Sonnet probably reveals that the Poet had a way of putting his writings under lock and key when he was absent from his residence in London. L3: un-used = untaken. "Un-used" is hyphenated in the 1609 original. The hyphen helps prevent "un-used" from being stressed on the last syllable, which would depart from the meter, so I retain the hyphen. L5: to whom There's a double meaning in line 5. First, "to whom" is read 'compared to whom.' Compared to the value of the addressee to him, the Poet's material possessions are trivial. Second, "to whom" is read 'to you.' To the addressee, the Poet's writings are trivial (so he says.) This is from the social convention that an author should depreciate his work, as a mark of good manners. L5: trifles A patron might, indeed, consider the Poet's Sonnets to be minor entertainments. However, the social convention, already mentioned, probably also applies for this use of "trifles." (Further, the addressee may not be a patron.) L14: truth = fidelity; honesty. "Truth" is personified. The Poet is saying that the addressee is such a fine person that even Honesty, itself, might be tempted to steal him (or her) away. The Poet might be concerned about the possibility of losing the friendship of a patron. Alternatively, he might be concerned about retaining his wife's affection during his absences from Stratford. Certainly various Shakespeare plays express suspicion of female fidelity (although such suspicions typically prove unfounded in the plays.) Then, as mentioned, it's hypothetically conceivable the Sonnet is written in a way to accomodate both possibilities. |
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