SONNET 14
My galley charged with forgetfulness,Thorough sharp seas, in winter nights doth pass,'Tween rock and rock, and eke mine enemy, alas, That is my Lord, steereth with cruelness. And every oar a thought in readiness, As though that death were light in such a case; An endless wind doth tear the sail apace, Of forced sighes and trusty fearfulness. A rain of tears, a cloud of dark disdain, Hath done the wearied cordsgreat hindrance. Wreathed with error and ekewith ignorance, The stars be hid that led me to this pain; Drowned is reason that should me comfort, And I remain despairing of the port. My galy charged with forgetfulnes, Thorrough sharpe sees, in wynter nyghtes doeth pas, Twene Rock and Rock : and eke myn enemy, alas, That is my Lorde, sterith withcruelnes. And every owre a thought in redines : As tho that deth were light insuch a case ; An endles wynd doeth tere the sayll a pase, Of forced sightes and trusty ferefulnes. A rayn of teris : a clowde of derk disdain, Hath done the wered cordes great hinderaunce : Wrethed with error and eke with ignoraunce. The starres be hid that led me to this pain : Drowned is reason that should me comfort : And I remain dispering of the port.
NOTES
charged = laden. The lover is so preoccupied with his love that he is forgetful of all else.thorough = through.rock and rock = these stand for hazards such as the Scylla and Charibdis of Homeric legend.eke =also.my Lord = Cupid.oar - following Petrarch, the ship is oared by the lover's thoughts.wearied - possibly weared, i.e. worn.cords = the ropes which tie the sails.great hindrance = great damage.stars = his mistress' eyes, whichin sonneteering convention are often compared to stars.despairing of the port = losing hope that I shall ever reach shelter.This is a typical 'Galley Sonnet' of a type which most Italian andFrench sonneteers eventually wrote. The original Petrarchan one is given below. The lover compares himself to a ship (galley) on a storm tossed sea. He fears that he will never reachharbour safely.The source of this sonnet is an Italian one by Petrarch:No. 189 (156) (Mestica, 268-69):
Passa la nave mia colma d' oblioPer aspro mare, a mezza notte, il vernoE 'nfra Scilla e Cariddi; ed al governoSiede 'l signore, anzi 'l nimico mio:A ciascun remo un penser pronto e rio,Che la tempesta e 'l fin par ch' abbi a' scherno:La vela rompe un vento, umido, eterno,Di sospir, di speranze e di desio:Pioggia li lagrimar, nebbia di sdegniBagna e rallenta le già stanche sarte,Che son d' error con ignoranzia attorto:Celansi i duo mei dolci usati segni;Morta fra l' onde è la ragion e l' arte:Tal ch' i' 'ncomincio a desperar del porto.
