Wednesday, November 3, 2010

When my love swears that she is made of truth


I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor'd youth, 

Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young, 

Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue: 

On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd.
But wherefore says she not she is unjust? 

And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust, 

And age in love loves not to have years told: 
Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
 And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be. 


ANALYSIS
lies (2): meaning both "tells lies" and "lies (has sex) with other men." That (3): So that.
vainly (5): wrongly.
Simply (7): i.e., Like a simpleton.
credit (7): believe.
wherefore (9): why.
unjust (9): dishonest (about her fidelity).
habit (11): guise.
age in love (12): older lovers.
Therefore I lie...me (13): Notice again the double meaning of lie. The line can also be interpreted as "That is why I sleep with her and she with me."
In Sonnet 138 the poet candidly reveals both the nature of his relationship with the dark lady and the insecurities he has about growing older. Unlike his intense yet healthy love affair with the young man, the poet's fling with his mistress is (for now) uncomplicated and practical, fulfilling his most basic needs of both sexual pleasure and continual reassurance that he is still worthy of love despite his age. So emotionally detached is the poet from his mistress that he prefers simply to ignore her lying and adultery. The poet's glib indifference toward his mistress is startling, particularly when juxtaposed with his profound concern for the young man, who cannot even be the subject of a rival poet's work without rendering him "tongue-tied" and "faint" 

resource


Maybe we also cam make Shakespeare surprised by commenting on the nice poem...




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