The Final Couplet

Jacob joins me for our penultimate sonnet in this series of 4! As well as deconstructing Sonnet 102, we discuss distressing story of Philomel and her importance to Shakespeare. Sonnet 102 My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming; I love not less, though less the show appear; That love is merchandized whose rich esteeming The owner's tongue doth publish everywhere. Our love was...

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd joins me again to explore Sonnet 101. It's a dense one so strap in! Sonnet 101 O truant Muse what shall be thy amends For thy neglect of truth in beauty dyed? Both truth and beauty on my love depends; So dost thou too, and therein dignified. Make answer Muse: wilt thou not haply say, 'Truth needs no colour, with his colour fixed; Beauty no pencil, beauty's truth to...

We've hit 100 and to celebrate I am joined by friend of the podcast and esteemed actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd for the next 4 sonnets! You might have seen him in The Queens Gambit, Bodies or Midas Man. You might even have seen him at the RSC if you like your Shakespeare! I've attached the link to our AI generated Shakespeare, enjoy!

I got 99 Problems but this sonnet ain't one. .. But it is a little bit weird because it has 15 lines. Shakespeare takes flower personification to the next level. Our story continues with a trip to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.

Join me as I delve into the meaning of Shakespeare's Sonnet 98. We discuss Shakespeare's use of the seasons and his particular hatred of winter as well as diving into why he is comparing his lover to spring flowers. Our story continues with Christopher Marlowe's escape of Shakespeare's holiday cottage!

Shakespeare compares his love to the seasons... again. Our story continues with Shakespeare and Marlowe visiting Shakespeare's infamous holiday cottage. Sonnet 97 How like a winter hath my absence been From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! What old December's bareness everywhere! And yet this time removed was summer's time; The t...

Shakespeare uses a couple of good metaphors in this one to drive his point home. Good on ya William! Sonnet 96 Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness; Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport; Both grace and faults are lov'd of more and less: Thou mak'st faults graces that to thee resort. As on the finger of a throned queen The basest jewel will be well esteem'd, So are those...

Shakespeare is still worried his lover is cheating on him and gives him a warning! Our story continues with an almighty confrontation. Sonnet 95 How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame Which, like a canker in the fragrant rose, Doth spot the beauty of thy budding name! O! in what sweets dost thou thy sins enclose. That tongue that tells the story of thy days, Making lascivious comments on th...

Shakespeare is concerned his lover is cheating again... Our story continues with a somewhat romantic trip to Vauxhall gardens. Sonnet 94 They that have power to hurt and will do none, That do not do the thing they most do show, Who, moving others, are themselves as stone, Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow: They rightly do inherit heaven's graces And husband nature's riches from expense...

Shakespeare continues to be very suspicious of his young lover. Has he had an affair? Sonnet 93 So shall I live, supposing thou art true, Like a deceived husband; so love's face May still seem love to me, though altered new; Thy looks with me, thy heart in other place: For there can live no hatred in thine eye, Therefore in that I cannot know thy change. In many's looks, the false heart&#3...

Shakespeare says if his lover stops loving him then he will die. Makes sense... Our story continue with Marlowe choosing the man he wants to marry! Sonnet 92 But do thy worst to steal thyself away, For term of life thou art assured mine; And life no longer than thy love will stay, For it depends upon that love of thine. Then need I not to fear the worst of wrongs, When in the least of them my life...

A nice easy one to dissect this one. Basically a big long list. I like it Shakespeare. Our story continues with Shakespeare and Ben Jonson battling it our again for Chris Marlowe's love. Sonnet 91 Some glory in their birth, some in their skill, Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force, Some in their garments, though newfangled ill, Some in their hawks and hounds, some in their horse; A...

The third part of Sonnet 88, otherwise known as Sonnet 90... Shakespeare's life continues to be an absolute misery. Will Shakespeare get back together with Christopher Marlowe in our story? Sonnet 90 Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now; Now, while the world is bent my deeds to cross, Join with the spite of fortune, make me bow, And do not drop in for an after-loss: Ah! do not, when my he...

Shakespeare tells his lover that he will do anything to make himself the villain of their breakup. Our story continues with Shakespeare degrading himself whilst shouting out of a window. Sonnet 89 Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault, And I will comment upon that offence: Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt, Against thy reasons making no defence. Thou canst not, love, disgrace...

Shakespeare tells his lover that he's happy to take the blame for a load of things in their relationship even if it wasn't his fault. Weird bloke. Sonnet 88 When thou shalt be disposed to set me light, And place my merit in the eye of scorn, Upon thy side, against myself I'll fight, And prove thee virtuous, though thou art forsworn. With mine own weakness being best acquainted, Upon thy part I can...

Happy New Year! What better way to start 2025 than with a Shakespearean sonnet all about the end of a relationship. Sonnet 87 Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing, And like enough thou know'st thy estimate, The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing; My bonds in thee are all determinate. For how do I hold thee but by thy granting? And for that riches where is my deserving? The cause of...

Enjoy this very special festive episode of The Final Couplet with the one and only Kaffe Keating returning for another year of chat about Shakespeare at Christmas and the mad traditions that surrounded him. Many thanks to the Bristol Folk House Choir for their amazing rendition of "The Boar's Head Carol" arranged by Anna Tabbush.

Shakespeare claims his rival is writing with some ghosts... Sonnet 86 Was it the proud full sail of his great verse, Bound for the prize of all too precious you, That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse, Making their tomb the womb wherein they grew? Was it his spirit, by spirits taught to write Above a mortal pitch, that struck me dead? No, neither he, nor his compeers by night Giving him ai...

The sonnet so good I recorded it twice - and definitely not because I accidentally deleted the first file. Our story continues with Shakspeare and Christopher Marlowe having a lovers tiff - and a cameo from an Aussie postman. Sonnet 85 My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still, While comments of your praise richly compiled, Reserve thy character with golden quill, And precious phrase by all t...

Shakespeare gives some advice to other writers. That's nice of him isn't it! Our story continues with a Shakespeare masterclass. Sonnet 84 Who is it that says most, which can say more, Than this rich praise, that you alone, are you, In whose confine immured is the store Which should example where your equal grew? Lean penury within that pen doth dwell That to his subject lends not some small glory...

Shakespeare continues to compare himself to other writers and explains why he can't describe his lovers beauty. Our story continues with the reaction to Shakespeare and Ben Jonson's poetry slam. Sonnet 83 I never saw that you did painting need, And therefore to your fair no painting set; I found, or thought I found, you did exceed The barren tender of a poet's debt: And therefore have I slept in y...

Shakespeare compares himself to other writers again. Apparently he doesn't consider himself "new wave"! Our Story continues with a Ben Jonson & William Shakespeare poet off. Sonnet 82 I grant thou wert not married to my Muse, And therefore mayst without attaint o'erlook The dedicated words which writers use Of their fair subject, blessing every book. Thou art as fair in knowledge as in hue, Fi...

Shakespeare talks about how everyone will forget him when he dies but his poetry will live on. I suppose he had a point... Sonnet 81 Or I shall live your epitaph to make, Or you survive when I in earth am rotten, From hence your memory death cannot take, Although in me each part will be forgotten. Your name from hence immortal life shall have, Though I, once gone, to all the world must die: The ea...

Shakespeare continues to talk about his rivalry with an other poet whilst using an analogy about ships! Sonnet 80 O! how I faint when I of you do write, Knowing a better spirit doth use your name, And in the praise thereof spends all his might, To make me tongue-tied speaking of your fame. But since your worth, wide as the ocean is, The humble as the proudest sail doth bear, My saucy bark, inferio...

Shakespeare is worried other poets are writing about his muse! Our story continues with a shock love triangle forming. Sonnet 79 Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid, My verse alone had all thy gentle grace; But now my gracious numbers are decayed, And my sick Muse doth give an other place. I grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument Deserves the travail of a worthier pen; Yet what of thee thy poet d...