ROMEO
16-07-2002, 04:07 AM
O, never say that I was false of heart,
Though absence seem'd my flame to qualify.
As easy might I from myself depart
As from my soul, which in thy breast doth lie:
That is my home of love: if I have ranged,
Like him that travels I return again,
Just to the time, not with the time exchanged,
So that myself bring water for my stain.
Never believe, though in my nature reign'd
All frailties that besiege all kinds of blood,
That it could so preposterously be stain'd,
To leave for nothing all thy sum of good;
For nothing this wide universe I call,
Save thou, my rose; in it thou art my all.
http://www.angeleyes2.com/graphics/love5bar.gif
PARAPHRASE
O, do not say that I was untrue
Though absence from you seemed to make my love less warm.
I could as easily depart from myself
As from my soul, which lies in your breast
That is my love's home: If I have wandered
Like a traveller, I return home again
I arrive punctual to the time but I do not change with the time,
So that I myself bring water to wash away my stain
Never believe, even if in my nature there reigns
Every type of sensuality
That my nature could be so preposterously lustful
To give up all your goodness
For I call the whole universe nothing
Except you, my rose; in this universe you are my everything.
http://www.angeleyes2.com/graphics/love5bar.gif
ANALYSIS
We can sense here a confidence and independence in the tone -- a tone found only in a few of the Sonnets. The poet reveals that his feelings toward his friend have cooled during his time away from London, likely during a tour with his acting company, the Chamberlain's Men (around 1594)
Though absence seem'd my flame to qualify.
As easy might I from myself depart
As from my soul, which in thy breast doth lie:
That is my home of love: if I have ranged,
Like him that travels I return again,
Just to the time, not with the time exchanged,
So that myself bring water for my stain.
Never believe, though in my nature reign'd
All frailties that besiege all kinds of blood,
That it could so preposterously be stain'd,
To leave for nothing all thy sum of good;
For nothing this wide universe I call,
Save thou, my rose; in it thou art my all.
http://www.angeleyes2.com/graphics/love5bar.gif
PARAPHRASE
O, do not say that I was untrue
Though absence from you seemed to make my love less warm.
I could as easily depart from myself
As from my soul, which lies in your breast
That is my love's home: If I have wandered
Like a traveller, I return home again
I arrive punctual to the time but I do not change with the time,
So that I myself bring water to wash away my stain
Never believe, even if in my nature there reigns
Every type of sensuality
That my nature could be so preposterously lustful
To give up all your goodness
For I call the whole universe nothing
Except you, my rose; in this universe you are my everything.
http://www.angeleyes2.com/graphics/love5bar.gif
ANALYSIS
We can sense here a confidence and independence in the tone -- a tone found only in a few of the Sonnets. The poet reveals that his feelings toward his friend have cooled during his time away from London, likely during a tour with his acting company, the Chamberlain's Men (around 1594)