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. Sonnet 70 . . Ophelia's Love Sonnet . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect, 02. For slander's mark was ever yet the fair; 03. The ornament of beauty is suspect, 04. A Crow that flies in heaven's sweetest air. 05. So thou be good, slander doth but approve, 06. Their worth the greater being woo'd of time, 07. For Canker vice the sweetest buds doth love, 08. And thou present'st a pure unstained prime. 09. Thou hast passed by the ambush of young days, 10. Either not assailed, or victor being charg'd, 11. Yet this thy praise cannot be so thy praise, 12. To tie up envy, evermore enlarged, 13. If some suspect of ill mask'd not thy show, 14. Then thou alone kingdoms of hearts shouldst owe. |
. Sonnet 70 . . Ophelia's Love Sonnet . (paraphrased) 01. That you're suspected of some offense shall not be your fault, 02. Because slanderous people always target the beautiful, (out of envy,) 03. Suspicion is like an ornament on beauty, (that proves beauty,) 04. Like a crow flying high in the sky is only a little black "beauty mark" on the face of heaven. 05. You are so good, slander achieves nothing but approval, 06. And slanders' worth is all the greater as you go hand-in-hand with time, into the future, 07. For we know canker-like vice loves to attack the sweetest buds, 08. And you present a pure, unstained prime of life. 09. You have passed by the fall from the tree that killed you in your youth, 10. Either with your virginity intact, or, if some people think otherwise, Hamlet paid with his death, 11. Yet this praise for you cannot be enough praise, 12. To stop all ill will against you, as your fame grows, 13. If some suspicion of wrong didn't veil your true beauty, 14. Then to you, alone, entire kingdoms of hearts would owe... (love.) |
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Sonnet 70 Gloss
L1: blam'd = suspected of some offense. L1: defect = fault. L3: suspect = doubt; suspicion. Line 3 must be reversed for prose meaning: "Suspicion is the ornament of beauty." L4: Crow - The word was used because of the crowflower in Hamlet. L5: So thou be good = You are so good. L6: Their = slanders'. (Note, to the right.) This word is not "thy." L7: Canker vice = canker-like vice. L9: ambush = "attack" involving a tree. L14: owe - (Note, to the right.) |
Sonnet 70 Notes
Sonnet 70 is about the Ophelia character in Hamlet. It's Ophelia's Love Sonnet. There's more about Ophelia's Love Sonnet at this link: Ophelia Sonnets ------- L6: Their = slanders'. This word is not "thy." "Their" is the word in the original 1609 publication, it is correct, and the change to a different word, as found in most modern reprints, is only an editorial blunder. A pun is intended with "there." "Their worth the greater" = 'the greater worth there.' If you see a reprint of Sonnet 70 which has the word "Thy" in line 6 you'll know you don't have genuine Shakespeare, and any other Sonnets from that same source should be viewed with suspicion. L14: owe This word "owe" is correct as originally printed, to an absolute certainty. It is not the word "own" which is found in reprints overseen by editors who did not understand the Sonnet. What is owed to this character, as described? Think about it. |
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