Theme: Young Man
Content: A very strong, simple and direct criticism of the subject for not fathering children, alleging self-hate and selfishness as the causes.
- “Be shamed if you admit that you have no love for anyone but yourself.”
Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,
But that thou none lov'st is most evident;
- “Admit that many love you but that you love no-one.”
For thou art so possessed with murd'rous hate
That 'gainst thyself thou stick'st not to conspire,
Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate
Which to repair should be thy chief desire.
- “You are so full of hate that you conspire against yourself to not have children which should be your priority.”
- Surprisingly strong language indicating that the author was perhaps commissioned to write such verse for someone who had the authority to express themselves so strongly to the subject in this way.
O, change thy thought, that I may change my
mind!
Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?
Be as thy presence is, gracious and kind,
Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove.
- “Change your mind, so that I can change my opinion of you! Is it right that hate should dwell where love should be? Be true to yourself, or at least be kind to yourself.”
Make thee another self for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine or thee.
- “Have children, for my sake if not your own, so that your beauty will live in both your children as well as yourself.”
- Strong suggestion that this sonnet was commissioned, perhaps by the subject's parent(s). It is unlikely that the subject would start a family for the benefit of the author.
Critical text © NigelDavies.home@Virgin.net