Poems (sonnets)
SONNET 21 So is it not with me as with thatMuse,
Stirred by a painted beauty to his verse,
Who heaven itself for ornament doth use
And every fair with his fair dothrehearse,
Making a couplement of proud compare
With sun and moon, with earth and sea's rich gems,
With April's first-born flowers, and all things rare,
That heaven's air in this huge rondure hems.
O! let me, true in love, but truly write,
And then believe me, my love is as fair
As any mother's child, though not so bright
As those gold candles fixed in heaven's air:
Let them say more that like of hearsay well;
I will not praise that purpose not to sell. The poet now begins an analysis of what he might or might not say of his beloved. Hedoes not wish to follow the example of those poets who force comparisons with everything that is fair, beautiful, strange or rare. Instead he wishes to extol the virtue of truthfulness. Since his love is indeed beautiful, what need is there of over praise? Why not say at the outset that, quite simply, you, my love, are yourself, you outshine all praise.He who attempts to say more is like a costermonger trying to sell his wares from a barrow. But this poet will remain aloof from such gross pandering. Thefact that his love is fair is enough for him, and he will not enlarge his praise by false and ludicrous comparisons.
The criticism of ' that Muse ' is fairly general, but it is quite possible that it applies to an individual rather than to a style of writing. Later in the sequence sonnets 76-86 deal with the threat from a rival poetor poets and this sonnet here isa perhaps a foretaste of what isto follow later.
It is more natural to suppose that the sonnets were written as a response to or as a contribution to the easy discussions of a group of young men, some of whom might have enjoyed a privilegedposition in relation to the cynosure of the group, the young nobleman who has beenencouraged in the previous sonnets to repair his house (i.e. to marry and have children). The poetic criticism levelled here might apply to many poets,Petrarch, Sydney, Daniel, even Shakespeare himself (although we should not assume that it will be a poet well known to our anthologies). It is a clever way of turning the tables on conventional poetry, at the same time showing that one's own poems are just as inventive. It also has the more serious motive of investigating the nature of love - 'What is it that makes my loved one so special, so exalted in my eyes above the conventional norms of beauty. What is it that makes him so supremely himself?' Such vain thought as wonted tomislead me In desert hope by well assuredmoan, Maketh me from company to live alone In following her whom reasonbid me flee. She fleeeth as fast by gentle cruelty, And after her mine heart would fain be gone, But armed sighs my way do stop anon, Twixt hope and dread lacking my liberty. Yet, as I guess, under disdainful brow, One beam of pity is in her cloudy look, Which comforteth the mind that erst for fear shook. And, therewithall bolded, I seek the way how To utter the smart that I suffer within; But such it is I not how to begin. Suche vayn thought as wonted to myslede me : In desert hope by well assured mone : Maketh me from compayne to live alone : In folowing hir whome reason bid me fle. She fleith as fast by gentill crueltie : And after her myn hert would fain be gone : But armed sighes my way dostop anon : Twixt hope and drede lacking my libertie. Yet, as I gesse, under disdaynfull browe, One beame of pitie is in her clowdy loke, Which comforteth the mind that erst for fere shoke. And, therewithall bolded, I seke the way how To utter the smert that I suffre within ; But suche it is I not how to begyn. NOTES wonted = was accustomed to.desert hope = a desert of hope??well assured moan = unmistakeable, well-justified moans.would fain be gone = desires tofollow.my way do stop anon = immediately bar my route.erst = erstwhile, recently.therwithal = by this (the one beam of pity).bolded = emboldened.to utter = to speak out, to describe.the smart = the pain.But such it is = but it is so great.I not how = I know not how
