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. Sonnet 74 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. But be contented when that fell arrest, 02. Without all bail shall carry me away, 03. My life hath in this line some interest, 04. Which for memorial still with thee shall stay. 05. When thou reviewest this, thou dost review, 06. The very part was consecrate to thee, 07. The earth can have but earth, which is his due, 08. My spirit is thine the better part of me, 09. So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life, 10. The prey of worms, my body being dead, 11. The coward conquest of a wretch's knife, 12. Too base of thee to be remembered, 13. The worth of that, is that which it contains, 14. And that is this, and this with thee remains. |
. Sonnet 74 . (paraphrased) 01. But, be reconciled, when that fatal arrest, by Death, 02. With no chance for release, carries me away; 03. My life has, in this way, concerning my writing, some interest, 04. Which, as a remembrance of me, will always stay with you. 05. When you review my writing, you're looking at 06. The exact part of me that was devoted to you; 07. The earth is welcome to take the "earth" of my body, since it's the right of the earth to do that, 08. (But) My spirit, the better part of me, is yours; 09. So then, with the death of my body, you've lost only the least important part of my life; 10. (So let it be) The prey of worms, my body being dead, 11. Conquered by the sickle of that wretch, the Grim Reaper, a coward, (who never fights fair,) 12. (My physical self) Is too unworthy a thing to be remembered by you, 13. The worth of my body, is only in that which it contains, 14. And that is my spirit, as expressed in my writing, like this, and it remains with you. |
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Sonnet 74 Gloss
L1: But - This Sonnet begins with a word of continuation, since it was written to follow #73. L1: contented = resigned; reconciled. L1: fell = deadly; fatal. L1: arrest = stop; seizure. L2: all bail = any release; any chance of release. L3: in this line = in this way. Also referring literally to written lines. L4: memorial = remembrance. L4: still = always. L6: consecrate = consecrated; dedicated; devoted. L7: (the second) earth = the human body. From the religious concept of the body as "dust" raised from the earth by God. L7: due = right. L9: dregs = lowest parts; least important parts. On the concept that the body is the least of life, and the spirit (mentioned in line 8) is what really counts. L11: coward = cowardly. The idea is that Death doesn't fight fair, and that not fighting fair is cowardly. L11: wretch's knife = the sickle of the Grim Reaper. "Wretch" = abominable creature. L12: base = low; contemptible; unworthy. L13: (the first) that = my body. |
Sonnet 74 Notes
Sonnet 74 is by Edward de Vere, to William Shakespeare. It contains affirmation that what Vere had written, he left to Shakespeare. ------- |
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