SONNET 28 How can I then return in happy plight,
That am debarred the benefit ofrest?
When day's oppression is not eas'd by night,
But day by night and night by day oppressed,
And each, though enemies to either's reign,
Do in consent shake hands to torture me,
The one by toil, the other to complain
How far I toil, still farther off from thee.
I tell the day, to please him thouart bright,
And dost him grace when clouds do blot the heaven:
So flatter I the swart-complexion'd night,
When sparkling stars twire not thou gild'st the even.
But day doth daily draw my sorrows longer,
And night doth nightly make grief's length seem stronger. This continues the complaint ofthe previous sonnet. Evidently he is far removed from his beloved, and he sees in this a conspiracy between day and night to torture him. In his distress he attempts to placate both day and night by telling them that the beloved youth adds to them an extra glory by his radiance. But this has no effect and he is forced continually to commiserate withhis own sorrows, reflecting thatduring the day he cannot be with the youth, and at night cannot sleep for continually thinking of him. If waker care ; if sudden pale Colour; If many sighs, with little speech to plain, Now Joy, now woe, if they my cheer distain, For hope of small, if much to fear therefore; To haste to slack my pace less or more, Be sign of love, then do I love again. If thou ask whom; sure, since Idid refrain Brunet, that set my wealth in such a roar, Th'unfeigned cheer of Phillis hath the place That Brunet had; she hath and ever shall. She from myself now hath me in her grace : She hath in hand my wit, my will, my all: My heart alone well worthy shedoth stay, Without whose help, scant do Ilive a day. If waker care ; if sodayne pale Coulor : If many sighes, with litle speche to playne, Now Joy, now woo if they my chere distayne, For hope of small, if muche to fere therfore ; To hast to slake my passe lesseor more, By signe of love, then do I love agayne. If thou aske whome ; sure, sins I did refrayne Brunet, that set my welth in such a rore, Thunfayned chere of Phillis hath the place That Brunet had ; she hath and ever shal. She from my self now hath me in her grace : She hath in hand my wit, my will, my all : My hert alone wel worthie she doeth staye, Without whose helpe, skant do I live a daye. NOTES waker = wakeful.little speech to plain = not muchcomplaining speech.distain = sully, discolour.For hope of small = because of the hope of a small (reward).if much to fear therefore = if there appears to be great fear as a result (of this hope).To haste etc. = to speed up or slow down my pace erratically.refrain = give up, reject.Brunet = a girl's name. Or perhaps a dark haired girl.set my wealth in a roar = squandered my wealth.She from myself = she, by my consent.worthy = worthily.doth stay = supports, upholds.scant = scarcely.verity = truth.
