outworn worn-out (clothing image)/eroded (suggests tombs or inscriptions)
3 sometime formerly
down-razed demolished, razed to the ground
4 brass seen as the most durable of substances
mortal rage death’s destructive fury or frenzy
7 of from
main sea
8 Increasing … store i.e. each side alternately winning and losing, each loss being the other side’s gain
store abundance
9 interchange of state alternating conditions/exchanges of power and position/shifts within the political state
10 state existence/a kingdom
confounded to decay overthrown and ruined
11 ruminate puns on ruin and “ruinate”
1 Since i.e. since there is neither
2 o’er-sways overrules
3 with this rage against this violence
hold a plea uphold an argument (legal metaphor)
4 action power/lawsuit
6 wrackful wrecking, destructive
batt’ring bombarding repeatedly (as a means of breaching defenses)
10 from somewhere other than
Time’s chest i.e. age and death; the treasure chest will become a coffin
12 spoil goods (seized during war)/destruction, pillaging
1 all these i.e. the following
2 desert … born merit born in poverty
3 needy … jollity worthlessness adorned with finery
4 purest … forsworn the most solemn oaths broken/the betrayal of those who have kept their half of a mutual vow
5 gilded golden
6 rudely strumpeted crudely prostituted/coarsely slandered (for promiscuity)
7 right true, absolute
8 limping sway crippled authority, weak leadership
9 art scholarship/literature
10 doctor-like in a knowledgeable manner
11 simplicity stupidity
12 attending in service to
14 to i.e. were I to
1 wherefore why
infection moral corruption
2 grace impiety make sin attractive
3 by through
advantage profit, social advancement
4 lace adorn (as with a lace trimming)
society company
5 false painting use of cosmetics/portraiture
6 dead seeing a lifeless appearance
of from
hue complexion
7 poor inferior
8 Roses of shadow imitation roses
9 Nature bankrupt is i.e. because she has given all her riches to the young man
10 lively living
11 exchequer treasury
12 proud of many although boasting of her many creations/proud of the young man’s many attributes
gains profits
13 stores preserves, hoards
1 Thus the argument continues from Sonnet 67
map image/epitome/record
days outworn times past
3 bastard … fair false appearances of beauty (i.e. cosmetics)
born sustains the image of illegitimate children, but also puns on “borne,” i.e. worn, displayed
4 durst inhabit dared live
5 golden … dead wigs were often made from the hair of corpses (golden hair was particularly favored)
6 sepulchres tombs
8 gay attractive, bright
9 holy antique hours blessed ancient times
14 of yore in the past
1 parts personal features
2 Want lack
the … mend heartfelt thoughts can improve on
4 even … commend that even your enemies are obliged to express approval of
5 Thy outward your appearance
with outward with public
6 thine own what is due to you
7 accents words/tones
confound overthrow, ruin
10 in guess by conjecture
11 churls villains
12 rank rotten, loathsome
14 soil solution (with possible play on sense of contamination)
common vulgar/promiscuous (like a weed that grows everywhere)
1 blamed censured, criticized
defect fault
2 mark target
3 The … suspect beauty is always accompanied by (literally “adorned with”) suspicion
4 crow a bird associated with malice and evil
5 So thou be as long as you are
7 canker the canker-worm, a parasitic grub that destroys plants
8 unstainèd blameless/unfaded
prime youth/ springtime
9 ambush … days dangers that lie in wait for the young
10 assailed attacked (with overtones of seduction)
victor being charged the winner if assaulted
11 so sufficiently
12 tie … enlarged restrict envy, which is always at liberty
13 suspect of ill suspicion of wrongdoing
masked overshadowed
14 shouldst owe would possess
2 sullen gloomy/of deep, mournful sound
bell the passing bell that tolled for the dead
8 make you woe cause you sorrow
10 compounded mixed
11 rehearse utter, repeat
13 look … moan probe the cause of your sorrow
14 with me on my account
1 task challenge
recite describe, give an account of
8 niggard miserly
10 for … untrue out of love praise me undeservedly
13 that … forth i.e. his poetry
14 should you i.e. be ashamed
4 choirs the branches are compared to chancels (choirs), the parts of churches reserved for singers
late recently
8 Death’s second self i.e. night and, by extension, sleep
seals … rest seals people up in sleep as if in a coffin/shuts people’s eyes as a young hawk’s eyelids are “seeled” (i.e. sewn shut for training purposes)
12 Consumed … by i.e. the fire is smothered by the ashes of the substance on which it fed
14 that i.e. the poet (and perhaps life/youth)
leave lose/give up
1 But the argument continues from Sonnet 73
fell cruel/deadly
arrest death is seen as an officer taking men away to prison
3 line i.e. verse
interest right of possession or occupation (legal sense)
4 for memorial as a reminder/monument
still always
5 reviewest look over, read
6 consecrate solemnly dedicated
11 coward cowardly
wretch’s knife the knife wielded by an assassin (perhaps Death himself), or one used by a suicide
12 base worthless
13 of that i.e. of the body
14 this i.e. the poem (which contains the poet’s spirit)
2 sweet-seasoned springtime/sweetly flavored
3 for … you for the sake of the peace which you bring me (peace puns on “piece” to continue the food imagery)
hold such strife engage in such conflict
4 ’twixt between
5 anon immediately
6 Doubting fearing
filching thieving
7 counting considering (it); also suggestive of counting money
8 bettered thinking it even better
10 clean utterly
13 pine starve
surfeit overindulge (in food)
14 Or … or either … or
all away having nothing
1 pride adornment
4 compounds strange new compound words/new or different literary styles
5 all one in the same way
6 invention creativity/literary composition
noted weed well-known garment (the clothing imagery is maintained in dressing)
8 did proceed came from
10 argument subject mat
ter
14 telling relating/counting over (picking up on financial imagery in spending)
1 glass mirror
wear endure/wear out
2 dial clock/sundial
3 vacant leaves empty pages (this book may suggest that the poem was given along with a blank notebook)
thy mind’s imprint i.e. written thoughts and feelings
4 learning i.e. the profit derived from recording one’s thoughts
6 Of … memory will serve as a reminder of open graves
7 shady stealth faintly perceptible movement/slowly moving shadow (perhaps suggestive of a sundial; stealth has connotations of “sneaky, thievish”)
10 waste blanks empty pages
11 children i.e. thoughts, born of the brain and nurtured by being recorded
12 To … of ready to be reintroduced to
13 offices duties
1 Muse inspiring goddess of poetry, or creative inspiration generally
2 fair favorable
3 As that
alien stranger’s
got my use adopted my practice (of taking the young man as inspiration)
4 under thee under your influence
5 on high loudly
7 added feathers an image from falconry, referring to the adding of feathers to a bird’s damaged wing; improving a poet’s quill pen is also suggested
8 grace excellence
majesty glory, splendor
9 compile compose, write
11 mend improve
style plays on the sense of “stylus,” i.e. old form of pen
12 arts literary style
gracèd be are given added charm and distinction
13 thou … art all of my literary ability lies in you
advance promote, elevate
14 rude unpolished
2 gentle grace refined elegance/noble favor
3 gracious numbers elegant verses/ verses graced by your favor
4 sick Muse failing inspiration
doth … place is forced to make way for another (poet)
5 thy lovely argument the lovely subject matter of you
6 travail labor
7 of thee about you
invent become inspired by, write about
11 afford offer/manage to pay
1 faint lose heart
2 better spirit superior, more inspired poet
6 as as well as
proudest grandest (with connotations of arrogance)
7 saucy bark impertinent little boat
8 main open sea
wilfully perversely, stubbornly
9 shallowest help slightest assistance— a small boat can float in shallower water
10 soundless unfathomable
12 tall building high structure
goodly pride handsome splendor (but with connotations of arrogance)
13 cast away shipwrecked/rejected
14 my … decay my feelings were the cause of my ruin/the person I loved ruined me
1 Or … Or whether … or (whichever of them survives the longer in flesh, the beloved will endure through the poet’s work)
3 hence the world/the sonnet/henceforth
4 in … part all of my attributes
6 to … world to everyone, all posterity
7 common ordinary/shared (such as paupers were buried in)
9 monument tomb or other memorial structure
gentle tender/noble
11 to be of people not yet born
your … rehearse shall recount your existence (rehearse puns on “re-hearse”—i.e. once again commemorate with funeral rites)
12 all … world everyone alive in the world now
13 still yet/always
virtue power
14 ev’n in the in the very
1 grant concede
Muse inspiring goddess of poetry, or creative inspiration generally
2 attaint dishonor
o’erlook read
3 dedicated words devoted words/words used in a poem’s dedication to a particular individual
4 blessing which words bless/which subject favors as a patron
5 hue complexion, appearance
6 limit past region beyond the scope of
8 fresher stamp newer creation (stamp may suggest a newly printed book)
the time-bett’ring days current improved times
10 strainèd effortful/far-fetched, artificial
11 truly sympathized depicted with true feeling/presented faithfully
13 gross excessive/crass
painting representation/ornamentation/cosmetics
14 abused misused/unnecessary/wasted
1 painting the argument continues from Sonnet 82
2 fair beauty
set applied
4 barren tender worthless offer of repayment
5 slept … report kept quiet about you
6 That so that
extant alive
7 modern ordinary, commonplace
come … grow fail to depict, in discussing your worth, the real worth that grows within you
9 for my sin as a sin
impute reckon, regard
12 would wish to
bring a tomb kill (by overpraising)
14 both your poets i.e. Shakespeare and a rival/two rival poets
1 which i.e. which poet (the theme continues from Sonnet 83)
2 you … you you are unique
3 immurèd enclosed, walled up
store abundance (of qualities)
4 example … grew provide a pattern on which to model your likeness
5 penury poverty
8 so … story thus elevates his writing
9 but only
11 such … wit such a reproduction will make his ingenuity famous
14 Being … worse i.e. your eagerness for praise encourages flattery and thus debases the praise you receive/being so fond of praise is a weakness that undermines the praise you receive (alternatively, fond on praise may refer to an enjoyment of giving praise indiscriminately to others)
1 Muse inspiring goddess of poetry, or creative inspiration generally
in … still remains politely silent
3 Reserve their character preserve their appearance (i.e. are written down)
with golden quill i.e. in exquisite style—“aureate” (golden) also refers to a highly ornamental literary style
4 filed polished
6 unlettered clerk illiterate parish clerk (who assisted the priest in church by leading the responses to prayers)
7 able spirit affords gifted poets provide
12 holds … before maintains its position in the lead
13 for … respect value others for the breath of words
14 in effect through action
2 prize rich booty
3 inhearse bury
5 spirit intellectual vigor/vital powers
spirits supernatural inspiration/ghosts (of dead writers perhaps)
6 pitch height (literally, the highest point in a falcon’s flight before it swoops to attack)
struck me dead rendered me dumbstruck
7 compeers associates
8 astonishèd stunned into silence
9 affable familiar ghost kindly attendant spirit
10 gulls deceives
intelligence information
13 countenance face/approval
filled up occupied, served as subject matter for/repaired, filled in (giving line a suggestion of “crack”)
line i.e. the rival poet’s lines of verse; possible play on the additional sense of “ship,” picking up the nautical imagery at the start of the poem
14 matter subject matter/substance (with which to fill in a flaw)
1 dear expensive (with play on the sense of “beloved”)
2 estimate worth
3 charter … worth privilege that results from your merit
releasing freedom/legal dispensation from contractual obligations (charter also has the sense of “legal document relat
ing to the transference of property”)
4 bonds ties/legal agreements
determinate terminated (legal term relating to the cessation of tenancy)
7 cause of justification for receiving
wanting lacking
8 patent right of ownership
back … swerving is reverting to you
11 upon misprision growing coming from a misunderstanding
14 no such matter nothing of the kind
1 set me light value me little
2 place … scorn look scornfully at my worth (or cause others to do so)
4 forsworn perjured, one who has broken their word
6 Upon thy part on your side, on your behalf
7 attainted dishonored/convicted (or, rarely, “accused”)
8 That so that
10 bending directing
12 vantage advantage
double-vantage doubly benefit
14 bear all wrong endure all hardship/take responsibility for all wrongdoing/behave wrongfully (toward myself)
1 forsake abandon
2 comment upon expand on, give details of
3 halt limp
6 To … change in order to make your desire to leave me look justifiable and acceptable
8 I … strange I will completely suppress my familiarity with you and treat you like a stranger
9 thy walks the places where you habitually walk
12 haply perhaps
13 vow debate commit myself to conflict
1 Then follows on from Sonnet 89
2 bent determined
cross thwart
4 drop … after-loss fall upon (me) for further injury in the future
5 scaped escaped
6 Come … woe a military metaphor—“come along behind an army (woe) that I have managed to defeat”
8 linger … overthrow prolong a planned defeat
11 onset initial assault
13 strains varieties
1 glory exult, take pride
3 new-fangled ill highly fashionable but ugly
5 humour mood/temperament
adjunct corresponding
7 measure standard (of happiness)
8 better outdo
10 prouder … cost more splendid than costly garments/higher than the cost of garments
1 But continues the argument from Sonnet 91
2 term of life (my) lifetime
5 worst of wrongs worst injury (i.e. being entirely abandoned by his lover)
6 in … end the least slight or hint of a rebuff will kill me
8 humour mood
10 on … lie lies at the mercy of your change of mind
11 happy joyous/fortunate
title entitlement
13 blessèd-fair fortunately happy (fair also suggests “flawless/pale”)
blot blemish, stain
14 false unfaithful
1 So the argument continues from Sonnet 92
2 love’s face the appearance of love