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. Sonnet 84 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Who is it that says most, which can say more, 02. Than this rich praise, that you alone, are you 03. In whose confine immured is the store, 04. Which should example where your equal grew, 05. Lean penury within that Pen doth dwell, 06. That to his subject lends not some small glory, 07. But he that writes of you, if he can tell, 08. That you are you, so dignifies his story. 09. Let him but copy what in you is writ, 10. Not making worse what nature made so clear, 11. And such a counterpart shall fame his wit, 12. Making his style admired everywhere. 13. You to your beauteous blessings add a curse, 14. Being fond on praise, which makes your praises worse. |
. Sonnet 84 . (paraphrased) 01. It is he who says most, who can say more 02. Than the high praise that you, alone, are the one 03. In whose person is enclosed the inventory, (of qualities,) 04. That should show where your equal can be found, (which is nowhere.) 05. Meager poverty of expression exists within the poet 06. Who cannot lend at least some small glory to his subject, 07. But he who writes of you, if he can only tell 08. That you are you, he'll greatly dignify his writing. 09. Let him only copy what is already "written" in you, 10. Without making worse what nature made so plain, 11. And such a correspondence, between you and what he writes, will make his wit famous, 12. And make his style admired by everyone. 13. But you harm the beauty with which you are blessed, 14. By doting on praise, which diminishes your praiseworthiness. |
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Sonnet 84 Gloss
L2: rich = high. L2: (the second) you = he; or, 'one.' L3: confine = area; territory. Person. Implies "body" from the concept the Poet used elsewhere of one's body being one's "earth." So, 'person.' L4: immured = enclosed. L3: store - Of that which is praiseworthy. Inventory. L4: example = exhibit; illustrate. Show. L4: grew = could be found. L5: lean = meager. L5: penury = poverty (of expression.) L8: so = greatly. L10: made so clear - The phrase is highly facetious. The Poet knew he wrote this Sonnet is an obscure way, and he did so quite intentionally. L11: counterpart = correspondence. L11: fame = make famous. L14: Being fond on = doting on. |
Sonnet 84 Notes
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