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. Sonnet 76 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Why is my verse so barren of new pride? 02. So far from variation or quick change? 03. Why with the time do I not glance aside 04. To new found methods, and to compounds strange? 05. Why write I still all one, ever the same, 06. And keep invention in a noted weed, 07. That every word doth almost fell my name, 08. Showing their birth, and where they did proceed? 09. O know sweet love I always write of you, 10. And you and love are still my argument, 11. So all my best is dressing old words new, 12. Spending again what is already spent; 13. For as the Sun is daily new and old, 14. So is my love still telling what is told. |
. Sonnet 76 . (paraphrased) 01. Why is my verse so empty of new, fanciful conceits? 02. (And) So far from any variation, or any rapid change? 03. Why is it, with the passage of time, I don't look elsewhere, 04. To newfangled ways, and to unfamiliar forms? 05. Why do I always write in one style, always the same, 06. And keep "dressing up" my literary creations in the same, timeworn "clothing," 07. - So that everything I write, in this same old style, almost brings down my reputation - 08. Which reveals their inspiration, and where they came from? 09. Please know, sweet one I love, I always write of you, 10. And you, and my love, are always my subject, 11. So I put all my best effort into dressing up old words and poetic styles, like new, 12. Dispensing again, the same kind of verse I've already dispensed; 13. Because, like the old sun that's new every day, 14. So is my love, as I always tell you, just as I've already told you. |
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Sonnet 76 Gloss
L1: barren = unfruitful; empty. L1: pride = conceit; fancy; fancifulness. There's implicit reliance on different definitions of "conceit," which can refer either to ego, or fancy. People take pride in their creative fancies. L3: glance aside = look away (from the Sonnet form.) L4: new found = novel; newfangled. L4: compounds strange = unfamiliar kinds of composition. L5: all one = always in one style. L6: invention = literary creativity. L6: noted weed = familiar or timeworn "clothing." Refers to how poetry is "dressed up." L7: fell = down; bring down. (Note, to the right.) L8: birth = conception; inspiration. Line 8 - (Note, to the right.) L10: argument = subject. L12: spending = dispensing. |
Sonnet 76 Notes
Sonnet 76 is by William Shakespeare, to Edward de Vere. It is not in response to any complaint, and is neither an apology, nor an apologia. It is an analogy, between the Poet's fidelity to his beloved friend, and the constancy of his poetic style. His poetic form is unchanged because his loyal affection is unchanged. ------- L7: fell = down; bring down. The word is "fell" in the original. It is always changed to "tell" in reprints, but with no legitimate need to change it. The word "fell" as originally printed is probably correct. The Poet is referring to his Sonnets becoming unfashionable, possibly, and thus his reputation being "brought down," because of him becoming out of date. (By the way, the initial 'f-' of "fell" is certainly not a 't' that a typesetter placed upside down by mistake in the original printing; there is flatly no chance of that, the letter in the original is clearly an 'f'.) An author's reputation might decline (be "brought down") if it's said he can't do anything new. Line 8 The idea is, people would know who wrote the Sonnet just by looking at the subject and style, without even seeing the name of the author, since the subject and style have become so familiar. The same way a child can look like its parent, the verses "look like" the Poet. |
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