The Classic Theatre

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #49 Synopsis: The poet tries to prepare himself for a future in which the beloved rejects him. When that day comes, he writes, he will shield himself within the knowledge of his own worth, acknowledging that he can cite no reason in support of their love.   Against that time, if ever that time come, When...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #48 Synopsis: The poet contrasts the relative ease of locking away valuable material possessions with the impossibility of safeguarding his relationship with the beloved. The beloved can be enclosed only in the poet’s heart, which cannot block the beloved’s egress nor protect against those who would stea...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #47 Synopsis: After the verdict is rendered (in s. 46), the poet’s eyes and heart become allies, with the eyes sometimes inviting the heart to enjoy the picture, and the heart sometimes inviting the eyes to share in its “thoughts of love.” The beloved, though absent, is thus doubly present to the poet th...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #46 Synopsis: In this first of another pair of sonnets (perhaps a witty thank-you for the gift of a miniature portrait), the poet’s eyes and his heart are in a bitter dispute about which has the legal right to the beloved’s picture. The case is brought before a jury made up of the poet’s thoughts. This j...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #45 Synopsis: This sonnet, the companion to s. 44, imagines the poet’s thoughts and desires as the “other two” elements—air and fire—that make up “life’s composition.” When his thoughts and desires are with the beloved, the poet, reduced to earth and water, sinks into melancholy; when his thoughts and de...

#44 Synopsis: In this sonnet, which links with s. 45 to form, in effect, a two-part poem, the poet wishes that he were thought rather than flesh so that he could be with the beloved. The poet, being mortal, is instead made up of the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water. The dullest of these elements, earth and water, are dominant in him and force him to remain fixed in place, weeping “heavy t...

#43 Synopsis: The poet, separated from the beloved, reflects on the paradox that because he dreams of the beloved, he sees better with his eyes closed in sleep than he does with them open in daylight. His desire, though, is to see not the dream image but the actual person. When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, For all the day they view things unrespected; But when I sleep, in dreams they l...

#42 Synopsis: The poet attempts to excuse the two lovers. He first argues that they love each other only because of him; he then argues that since he and the young man are one, in loving the young man, the woman actually loves the poet. The poet acknowledges, though, that all of this is mere “flattery” or self-delusion. That thou hast her, it is not all my grief, And yet it may be said I loved her...

#41 Synopsis: The poet again tries to forgive the young man, now on the grounds that the young man could hardly have been expected to refuse the woman’s seduction. The attempt to forgive fails because the young man has caused a twofold betrayal: his beauty having first seduced the woman, both he and she have then been faithless to the poet.   Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits When I am some...

#40 Synopsis: This first of three linked sonnets accuses the young man of having stolen the poet’s “love.” The poet struggles to justify and forgive the young man’s betrayal, but can go no farther than the concluding “we must not be foes.” (While the word love is elaborately ambiguous in this sonnet, the following two sonnets make it clear that the theft is of the poet’s mistress.)   Take all my l...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #39 Synopsis: As in s. 36, the poet finds reasons to excuse the fact that he and the beloved are parted. First, it is easier to praise the beloved if they are not a “single one”; and, second, absence from the beloved gives the poet leisure to contemplate their love.   O, how thy worth with manners may I ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #38 Synopsis: The poet attributes all that is praiseworthy in his poetry to the beloved, who is his theme and inspiration.   How can my muse want subject to invent While thou dost breathe that pour’st into my verse Thine own sweet argument, too excellent For every vulgar paper to rehearse? O, give thysel...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #37 Synopsis: The poet feels crippled by misfortune but takes delight in the blessings heaped by nature and fortune on the beloved. As a decrepit father takes delight To see his active child do deeds of youth, So I, made lame by fortune’s dearest spite, Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth. For whe...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #36 Synopsis: The poet accepts the fact that for the sake of the beloved’s honorable name, their lives must be separate and their love unacknowledged. "Let me confess that we two must be twain Although our undivided loves are one; So shall those blots that do with me remain, Without thy help, by me ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #35 Synopsis: The poet excuses the beloved by citing examples of other naturally beautiful objects associated with things hurtful or ugly. He then accuses himself of being corrupted through excusing his beloved’s faults.   No more be grieved at that which thou hast done. Roses have thorns, and silver fou...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #34 Synopsis: In this sonnet the sun is again overtaken by clouds, but now the sun/beloved is accused of having betrayed the poet by promising what is not delivered. The poet writes that while the beloved’s repentance and shame do not rectify the damage done, the beloved’s tears are so precious that they...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #33 Synopsis: The poet describes the sun first in its glory and then after its being covered with dark clouds; this change resembles his relationship with the beloved, who is now “masked” from him. But if even the sun can be darkened, he writes, it is no wonder that earthly beings sometimes fail to remai...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #32 Synopsis: The poet imagines his poems being read and judged by his beloved after the poet’s death, and he asks that the poems, though not as excellent as those written by later writers, be kept and enjoyed because of the love expressed in them.   If thou survive my well-contented day When that churl ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #31 Synopsis: The poet sees the many friends now lost to him as contained in his beloved. Thus, the love he once gave to his lost friends is now given wholly to the beloved.   Thy bosom is endearèd with all hearts Which I by lacking have supposèd dead, And there reigns love and all love’s loving parts, A...

#30 Synopsis: The poet pictures his moments of serious reflection as a court session in which his memories are summoned to appear. As they come forward, he grieves for all that he has lost, but he then thinks of his beloved friend and the grief changes to joy.   When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with o...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #29 Synopsis: The poet, dejected by his low status, remembers his friend’s love, and is thereby lifted into joy.   When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #28 Synopsis: Continuing the thought of s. 27, the poet claims that day and night conspire to torment him. Though he has flattered both day and night by comparing them to beautiful qualities of his beloved, day continues to exhaust him and night to distress him.   How can I then return in happy plight Th...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #27 Synopsis: In this first of two linked sonnets, the poet complains that the night, which should be a time of rest, is instead a time of continuing toil as, in his imagination, he struggles to reach his beloved.   Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed, The dear repose for limbs with travel tired, But t...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #26 Synopsis: The poet, assuming the role of a vassal owing feudal allegiance, offers his poems as a token of duty, apologizing for their lack of literary worth. He begs his liege lord to protect this expression of his duty until fortune allows him to boast openly of his love.   Lord of my love, to whom ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #25 Synopsis: The poet contrasts himself with those who seem more fortunate than he. Their titles and honors, he says, though great, are subject to whim and accident, while his greatest blessing, his love, will not change.   Let those who are in favor with their stars Of public honor and proud titles boa...