SONNET 27 Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
But then begins a journey in myhead
To work my mind, when body's work's expired:
For then my thoughts--from far where I abide--
Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
Looking on darkness which the blind do see:
Save that my soul's imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new.
Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee, and for myself, no quiet find. Sonnets 27-30 are fairly meditative and quiet, exploring the traditional themes of sleeplessness, separation, bad fortune and sorrowful reminiscense.
Here the poet reflects on how thoughts of the beloved keep him awake, and even in darkness the image floats before him, like a jewel hung in ghastly night, making the face of night beautiful. Thus by day the poet is made weary by toil and travel, and by night rest is denied him, for he has to make journeys in his mind to attend on the loved one, who is far away.
This is the traditional theme of the sonneteers, echoing Sidney and others, who recount how they were stricken by being separated from their beloved. See for example the sonnet from Astrophel and Stella given at the bottom of this page. No doubt Shakespeare was conscious of these references to other loves in other circumstances, and one suspects that part of the richness of his own sonnet writing is that he is gently poking fun at all that has been written before on the theme of the haggard lover's wakeful weariness. You that in love find luck and abundance, And live in lust and joyful jollity, Arise, for shame, do away yoursluggardy; Arise, I say, do May some observance! Let me in bed lie dreaming in mischance; Let me remember the haps most unhappy, That me betide in May most commonly, As one whom love list little to advance. Sephanes said true that my nativity Mischanced was with the rulerof the May. He guessed, I prove of that theverity; In May, my wealth, and eke my life I say Have stonde so oft in such perplexity. Rejoice! let me dream of your felicity. You that in love finde lucke and habundaunce, And live in lust and joyful jolitie, Arise, for shame, do away your sluggardie; A rise, I say, do may some observaunce ! Let me in bed lye dreming in mischaunce ; Let me remembre the happs most unhappy, That me betide in May most comonly, As oon whome love list litil toadvaunce. Sephanes saide true that my nativitie Mischaunced was with the ruler of the May : He gest, I prove of that, the veritie ; In May, my welth, and eke my liff I say Have stonde so oft in such perplexitie. Reioyse ! let me dreme of your felicitie. NOTES sluggardy = laziness, idleness.do May some observance = celebrate this May morning.Let me in bed etc. - i.e. let me lie in bed wailing my misfortunes (you have no such excuse).the haps most unhappy = the most disastrous events.betide = occur, happen.list little to advance = has little or no wish to profit.Sephanes = unknown. Perhaps a contemporary soothsayer.nativity = birth.mischanced = was placed by misfortune.with = alongside, in the same stellar conjunction with.the ruler of May = the Lord of May, a character found amongstMorris dancers, sometimes equated with Robin Hood.I prove = I confirm by my experience.verity = truth.eke = also.stonde = stood (an archaic past tense).Rejoice! - i.e. Carry on rejoicing over this May morning, while I lie in bed, dreaming of your happiness.
