The Classic Theatre

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...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #24 Synopsis: This sonnet elaborates the metaphor of carrying the beloved’s picture in one’s heart. The poet claims that his eyes have painted on his heart a picture of the beloved. The poet’s body is both the picture’s frame and the shop where it is displayed. His only regret is that eyes paint only wha...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #23 Synopsis: The poet blames his inability to speak his love on his lack of self-confidence and his too-powerful emotions, and he begs his beloved to find that love expressed in his writings.   As an unperfect actor on the stage Who with his fear is put beside his part, Or some fierce thing replete with...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #22 Synopsis: This sonnet plays with the poetic idea of love as an exchange of hearts. The poet urges the young man to take care of himself, since his breast carries the poet’s heart; and the poet promises the same care of the young man’s heart, which, the poet reminds him, has been given to the poet “no...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #21 Synopsis: The poet contrasts himself with poets who compare those they love to such rarities as the sun, the stars, or April flowers. His poetry will, he writes, show his beloved as a beautiful mortal instead of using the exaggerated terms of an advertisement.   So is it not with me as with that muse...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #20 Synopsis: The poet fantasizes that the young man’s beauty is the result of Nature’s changing her mind: she began to create a beautiful woman, fell in love with her own creation, and turned it into a man. The poet, thus deprived of a female sexual partner, concedes that it is women who will receive pl...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #19 Synopsis: The “war with Time” announced in Sonnet 15 is here engaged in earnest as the poet, allowing Time its usual predations, forbids it to attack the young man. Should this command fail to be effective, however, the poet claims that the young man will in any case remain always young in the poet’s...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #18 Synopsis: In a radical departure from the previous sonnets, the young man’s beauty, here more perfect even than a day in summer, is not threatened by Time or Death, since he will live in perfection forever in the poet’s verses.   Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more t...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #17 Synopsis: As further argument against mere poetic immortality, the poet insists that if his verse displays the young man’s qualities in their true splendor, later ages will assume that the poems are lies. However, if the young man leaves behind a child, he will remain doubly alive—in verse and in his...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #16 Synopsis: Continuing the thought of s. 15, the poet argues that procreation is a “mightier way” than poetry for the young man to stay alive, since the poet’s pen cannot present him as a living being.   But wherefore do not you a mightier way Make war upon this bloody tyrant Time, And fortify yourself ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #15 Synopsis: In the first of two linked sonnets, the poet once again examines the evidence that beauty and splendor exist only for a moment before they are destroyed by Time. Here the poet suggests—through wordplay on engraft—that the young man can be kept alive not only through procreation but also in t...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #14 Synopsis: As astrologers predict the future from the stars, so the poet reads the future in the “constant stars” of the young man’s eyes, where he sees that if the young man breeds a son, truth and beauty will survive; if not, they die when the young man dies.   Not from the stars do I my judgment plu...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #13 Synopsis: The poet argues that the young man, in refusing to prepare for old age and death by producing a child, is like a spendthrift who fails to care for his family mansion, allowing it to be destroyed by the wind and the cold of winter.   O, that you were your self! But, love, you are No longer yo...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #12 Synopsis: As he observes the motion of the clock and the movement of all living things toward death and decay, the poet faces the fact that the young man’s beauty will be destroyed by Time. Nothing besides offspring, he argues, can defy Time’s scythe.   When I do count the clock that tells the time An...