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. Sonnet 87 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Farewell thou art too dear for my possessing, 02. And like enough thou knowest thy estimate, 03. The Charter of thy worth gives thee releasing; 04. My bonds in thee are all determinate. 05. For how do I hold thee but by thy granting, 06. And for that riches where is my deserving? 07. The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting, 08. And so my patent back again is swerving. 09. Thyself thou gav'st, thy own worth then not knowing, 10. Or me to whom thou gav'st it, else mistaking, 11. So thy great gift upon misprision growing, 12. Comes home again, on better judgment making. 13. Thus have I had thee as a dream doth flatter, 14. In sleep a King, but waking no such matter. |
. Sonnet 87 . (paraphrased) 01. Farewell, you are too precious for me to possess, 02. And you're probably aware of your value; 03. The authority you have, because of your value, allows you to release me; 04. My ties to you are all settled. 05. For, how would I hold you except with your permission, 06. And where have I shown I deserve such riches as you? 07. I lack anything to cause you to bestow such a handsome gift upon me, 08. And so, my exclusive privilege reverts back to you. 09. You gave yourself, at a time when you didn't know your own worth, 10. Or you didn't know me, to whom you gave yourself, or you were otherwise mistaken, 11. So, your great gift, of yourself, arose out of an error, and it 12. Reverts to you, on your better judgment. 13. I've had you in the same way a person honors himself, unrealistically, in a dream; 14. While sleeping, I've been a king, but awake, I'm no such thing. |
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Sonnet 87 Gloss
L1: dear = precious; valuable. L2: estimate = valuation. In context, 'value.' L3: Charter = permission; authority. Capitalized as if the title of a formal legal document, which goes along with the legalistic language. L3: worth = value; quality. 'Quality' is probably best since the addressee is being praised as a person of high status, and persons of high status in those days were called persons of quality. L3: releasing = power of release; power of revocation. L4: determinate = for a limited duration. In context, 'settled.' L8: patent = exclusive right; exclusive privilege. L8: swerving = turning. In context, 'reverting.' L11: misprison = error; mistake; misunderstanding. L13: flatter = honor unrealistically. |
Sonnet 87 Notes
The addressee of Sonnet 87 appears to be a woman. A "King" would have a Queen, of course. There's no legal divorce, the legal terms are figurative. There has been no sexual relationship. That's indicated because the Poet intentionally avoided using the word "treasure" in line 6; he used "riches" instead, although "treasure" would fit both the meaning and the meter. The addressee has given herself as "paragon to admire," and the Poet has been "official poet" for the addressee, and has been rewarded for his verse. However, it appears the patronage given to the Poet is now at an end. ------- |
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