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. Sonnet 89 . (original language, but moderately updated) 01. Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault, 02. And I will comment upon that offence; 03. Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt, 04. Against thy reasons making no defence. 05. Thou canst not (love) disgrace me half so ill, 06. To set a form upon desired change, 07. As I'll myself disgrace, knowing thy will, 08. I will acquaintance strangle and look strange; 09. Be absent from thy walks and in my tongue, 10. Thy sweet beloved name no more shall dwell, 11. Lest I (too much profane) should do it wrong, 12. And haply of our old acquaintance tell. 13. For thee, against myself I'll vow debate, 14. For I must ne'er love him whom thou dost hate. |
. Sonnet 89 . (paraphrased) 01. Let's suppose that you did forsake me because of some fault in me, 02. And, in what follows, I'll comment about that supposed offense: 03. If you speak of my lameness, I will immediately halt, 04. Making no defense against your criticism of my imperfection. 05. You cannot (my beloved friend) embarrass me half as badly - 06. In describing the change in me you'd wish - 07. As I'll demean myself, when I know your desire; 08. I will suppress our acquaintance, and look upon you as a stranger, 09. If you're absent from the places you frequent; then in my speech, 10. Your sweet, beloved name shall no longer exist, 11. Lest I (being too offensive) should do wrong to your name and reputation 12. If I chance to speak of our old acquaintance. 13. For you, I'll pledge to contend against myself, 14. Since I must never love anybody whom you despise. |
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Sonnet 89 Gloss
L1: Say = let's suppose. L3: lameness = gait due to a crippled leg. L3: straight = immediately. L3: halt = stop (so that the lameness doesn't show.) (Note, to the right.) L4: reasons = criticism. L5: disgrace = embarrass. L5: ill = badly. L6: set a form upon = give shape to; describe. L7: disgrace = humble; demean. L8: strangle = suppress. L9: walks = haunts. The places the addressee frequents, which are places the Poet knows. L9: tongue = speech. L10: dwell = exist (to be spoken.) L11: profane = offensive. (Note, to the right.) L11: it = name; reputation. L12: haply = by chance. L13: debate = contention; battle; a "war of words." (Note, to the right.) L14: hate - The Poet uses "hate" in casting himself as his own enemy, in prospect. In plain language, one "hates" enemies. |
Sonnet 89 Notes
Sonnet 89 is by Edward de Vere, to William Shakespeare. ------- L3: halt = stop (so that the lameness doesn't show.) There's a double meaning, since "halt" also means 'limp.' The secondary meaning of line 3 is that if the addressee speaks of the Poet being lame, he will immediately begin to limp, to prove the addressee right. In either event, the Poet is, in fact, lame, and he's sensitive about it. L11: profane = offensive. The idea is that of it being a curse rather than a blessing for the Poet to speak the addressee's name. The difference between a curse, and a blessing, is sometimes in who says something, and how it's said, even when the words are the same. L13: debate = contention; battle; a "war of words." The Poet is pledging that if the imagined dissatisfaction of the addressee ever arises, the Poet will take the addressee's side in a war of words against himself. |
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