Theme: Vices seen as Virtues
Content: An innocuous sonnet translating the vices of his subject into virtues.
Some say thy
fault is youth, some wantonness;
Some say thy grace
is youth and gentle sport.
- "Different people see either vice or virtue in the same thing.”
Both grace
and faults
are
loved of more and less;
Thou mak'st faults
graces that to thee resort.
- “Grace and faults respectively have greater and lesser appeal, but you can turn a fault into a grace.”
- Repetitive use (and perhaps overuse) of the words fault and grace in the first quatrain.
As on the finger of a throned queen
The basest jewel will be well esteemed,
- “A fault in a person such as you would still seem a virtue.”
- Choice of queen in this analogy may be significant. The subject may be female and being aggrandised to royalty level. The sonnet may have been written during Elizabeth’s reign so a natural choice for an analogy. The sonnet may have been written during James’ reign and the author regard the previous queen as a better superlative. If the subject is male, comparing him to a throned queen strikes me as a little odd.
- All 4 lines in this quatrain rhyme with each other.
So are those errors that in thee are seen
To truths translated and for true things deemed.
- “Characteristics that are faults, are more favourably looked upon in you.”
How many lambs might the stern wolf betray
If like a lamb he could his looks translate!
How many gazers mightst thou lead away
If thou wouldst use the strength of all thy state!
- “Looks can be deceiving, especially for a wolf in lamb’s clothing.”
- Suggests his subject is a beautiful looking person who holds power, e.g. his patron.
But do not so: I love thee in such sort
As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.
- “Stay as you are.”
- Identical couplet to Sonnet 36 at last linking the author with the subject, but here this couplet seems clunky to me.
- After questioning the actions of his subject the author now gives them a vote of confidence.
Critical text © NigelDavies.home@Virgin.net