The Final Couplet

We say goodbye to "the fair youth" and hello to "the dark lady". Shakespeare talks about cosmetics and how he thinks they are ruining true beauty. Sonnet 127 In the old age black was not counted fair, Or if it were, it bore not beauty's name; But now is black beauty's successive heir, And beauty slandered with a bastard shame: For since each hand hath put on Nature'...

The last sonnet in the fair youth series! Can we call it a sonnet if it doesn't have 14 lines? Our story comes to its conclusion. Sonnet 126 O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power Dost hold Time's fickle glass, his sickle, hour; Who hast by waning grown, and therein showest Thy lovers withering, as thy sweet self growest. If Nature, sovereign mistress over wrack, As thou goest onwards sti...

Shakespeare's penultimate sonnet to the fair youth! Sonnet 125 Were't aught to me I bore the canopy, With my extern the outward honouring, Or laid great bases for eternity, Which proves more short than waste or ruining? Have I not seen dwellers on form and favour Lose all and more by paying too much rent For compound sweet, forgoing simple savour, Pitiful thrivers, in their gazing spent? N...

Shakespeare aims for a strong a steady relationship that isn't swayed by the fashions of the time. Sonnet 124 If my dear love were but the child of state, It might for Fortune's bastard be unfathered, As subject to Time's love or to Time's hate, Weeds among weeds, or flowers with flowers gathered. No, it was builded far from accident; It suffers not in smiling pomp, nor falls Under...

Shakespeare returns to his age old habit of talking directly to time itself. Sonnet 123 No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change: Thy pyramids built up with newer might To me are nothing novel, nothing strange; They are but dressings of a former sight. Our dates are brief, and therefore we admire What thou dost foist upon us that is old; And rather make them born to our desire Than think th...

Shakespeare talks about regifting a notebook that was given to him. He argues that having to write in the notebook will make him more forgetful. Terrible excuse in my eyes! Sonnet 122 Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain Full charactered with lasting memory, Which shall above that idle rank remain, Beyond all date, even to eternity: Or, at the least, so long as brain and heart Have faculty by...

I'm joined this week by powerhouse actor James Corrigan who has worked more at the RSC than i've had hot dinners. We talk about Shakespeare's rage, philosophy & school playground antics. Sonnet 121 'Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed, When not to be receives reproach of being; And the just pleasure lost, which is so deemed Not by our feeling, but by others' seeing: Fo...

Shakespeare tries to tell his lover that they have both cheated on each other so they should just call it quits and move on... Sonnet 120That you were once unkind befriends me now,And for that sorrow, which I then did feel,Needs must I under my transgression bow,Unless my nerves were brass or hammered steel. For if you were by my unkindness shaken,As I by yours, you've passed a hell of time;An...

Sonnet 118 part 2 really, Sonnet 119 is a direct continuation. Shakespeare talks about the benefits of ruining your relationship by being evil. Our story continues with Shakespeare paying a visit to the local bell tower. Sonnet 119 What potions have I drunk of Siren tears, Distilled from limbecks foul as hell within, Applying fears to hopes, and hopes to fears, Still losing when I saw myself to wi...

Shakespeare tries to explain why he's been cheating on his lover so much. I'm not sure if it's going to work to be honest. Sonnet 118 Like as, to make our appetites more keen, With eager compounds we our palate urge; As, to prevent our maladies unseen, We sicken to shun sickness when we purge; Even so, being full of your ne'er-cloying sweetness, To bitter sauces did I frame my feed...

Difficult to follow last weeks classic. A tricky second album - if you will. Shakespeare reveals his toxic side in this one. Again. Sonnet 117 Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all, Wherein I should your great deserts repay, Forgot upon your dearest love to call, Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day; That I have frequent been with unknown minds, And given to time your own dear-purchased right;...

This is a famous one. You might have heard it at a wedding or two. But this doesn't mean we can't critique it, right? Sonnet 116 Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds Or bends with the remover to remove. O, no, it is an ever-fixèd mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wand’ring b...

Shakespeare has a nice little argument with himself about when love it at it's most potent. Our story continues with Shakespeare still mistaking the poor doctor for the Earl Of Southampton. Sonnet 115 Those lines that I before have writ do lie, Even those that said I could not love you dearer: Yet then my judgment knew no reason why My most full flame should afterwards burn clearer. But reckon...

Shakespeare delivers another Sonnet all about how he can see his lover in everything - even really ugly things. Sonnet 114 Or whether doth my mind, being crowned with you, Drink up the monarch's plague, this flattery? Or whether shall I say, mine eye saith true, And that your love taught it this alchemy, To make of monsters and things indigest Such cherubins as your sweet self resemble, Creati...

Shakespeare takes a break from his lover but can't help seeing him in everywhere. I imagine it a bit like "Being John Malkovich". Sonnet 113 Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind; And that which governs me to go about Doth part his function and is partly blind, Seems seeing, but effectually is out; For it no form delivers to the heart Of bird, of flower, or shape which it doth lat...

I explore William Shakespeare's 112th Sonnet. I think it's all about being a celebrity and how hard it is to be in the public eye. It's a direct continuation from Sonnet 111 so if you haven't listened to that episode yet, go back and have a listen maybe? Our improvised story continues with a development in Shakespeare's love affair with The Earl of Southampton.

Shakespeare seems to think being in public eye is making him a bad person - A bit like a celebrity these days... Sonnet 111 O! for my sake do you with Fortune chide, The guilty goddess of my harmful deeds, That did not better for my life provide Than public means which public manners breeds. Thence comes it that my name receives a brand, And almost thence my nature is subdued To what it works in,...

Shakespeare confesses to his lover that he has been cheating! Our story continues with The Earl of Southampton making Shakespeare take a trip to St Paul's Cathedral.

Wow, you can watch this as a video now! In this episode I discuss Shakespeare's Sonnet 109 which is all about infidelity and time apart.

Shakespeare talks about how hard it is to write new things about your love! Our story continues with Shakespeare and The Earl of Southampton Sonnet 108 What's in the brain that ink may character Which hath not figured to thee my true spirit? What's new to speak, what now to register, That may express my love, or thy dear merit? Nothing, sweet boy; but yet, like prayers divine, I must each...

Do we have a new character on the block? Is he called The Earl Of Southampton? Was he in prison? Lots of questions in this Sonnet! Sonnet 107 Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul Of the wide world dreaming on things to come, Can yet the lease of my true love control, Suppos'd as forfeit to a confin'd doom. The mortal moon hath her eclipse endur'd And the sad augurs mock their own...

Shakespeare looks back on some of the literary greats and realises that none of them can describe how hot his young lover is. Our story continues with Marlowe making a shocking discovery! Sonnet 106 When in the chronicle of wasted time I see descriptions of the fairest wights, And beauty making beautiful old rhyme In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights, Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty&#39...

Shakespeare talks idolatry and mimics religious speeches on Sonnet 105. Our story continues with a trip to "The London Church" Sonnet 105 Let not my love be called idolatry, Nor my beloved as an idol show, Since all alike my songs and praises be To one, of one, still such, and ever so. Kind is my love to-day, to-morrow kind, Still constant in a wondrous excellence; Therefore my verse to...

I'm back on my own for this one! Shakespeare is back to his old ways of talking about ageing and beauty. Our story continues with Shakespeare and Marlowe taking "a break". Sonnet 104 To me, fair friend, you never can be old, For as you were when first your eye I eyed, Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold Have from the forests shook three summers’ pride, Three beauteous sp...

Jacob joins me for the last of our series of 4 Sonnets! As well as dissecting Sonnet 103 we also talk about who Shakespeare really was and discuss Elizabeth Winkler's fantastic book about the topic. Sonnet 103 Alack! what poverty my Muse brings forth, That having such a scope to show her pride, The argument all bare is of more worth Than when it hath my added praise beside! O! blame me not, if...