Simple poem(شعر ساده)
Simple poem(شعر ساده)
Sonnet #29
Summary and analysis
When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least,
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Sonnet 29: Translation to modern English
When my luck has failed and no-one gives me any sympathy, I sit all alone and cry about being an outcast, and bother the deaf ears of heaven with my useless cries; and examine myself and curse my fate, wishing that I was like someone with good prospects; or that I looked like another, or had friends like yet another, coveting this man's skill, and that man's range - totally dissatisfied with the things I usually enjoy. Yet, as I'm thinking these thoughts, almost believing myself despicable, I think of you by chance and then my soul, like the lark rising from the glum earth at daybreak, sings hymns at heaven's gate. Because when I remember your sweet love, the thought brings such wealth that I'd then refuse to change places with kings
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1. When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
Elizabethan coat of arms. Usually a sign of fortune and prosperity. |
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1. To be in disgrace (considered to be without honor, be out of favor with)with fortune is presumably to be not favoured by her (taking fortune to be the goddess of 111).
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2. I all alone beweep my outcast state,
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2. beweep = weep for, bewail; Like bewail and beseem, the word has an archaic and biblical flavour. |
3. And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, |
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3. deaf heaven - Heaven (God) turns a deaf ear to his complaints and laments. The parallel is drawn with Job in the Old Testament, who was cast out on a dung heap and bewept his mournful state. |
4. And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
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4. And look upon myself - as the outcast contemplates his own fallen state. |
5. Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, |
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5. Wishing myself to be like one who is more richly endowed with all manner of blessings, including wealth. |
6. Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, |
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6. Featured like him, like him = with features like this person, like this second person having friends, like this third, desiring his skills (line 7) etc. |
7. Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, |
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7. this man's art = the skill that one particular person has; that man's scope = the capability, range, mental ability that another particular person has. |
8. With what I most enjoy contented least; |
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8. It is unspecified what he most enjoys, but evidently, in his despondency, things which ought to give him enjoyment do not do so. The implication is that he no longer enjoys the love of his beloved, although that idea is countermanded by the final couplet. |
9. Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising, |
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9. in these thoughts = while I am engaged in these thoughts |
10. Haply I think on thee, and then my state, |
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10.Haply = by chance, by a happy stroke of luck; |
11. Like to the lark at break of day arising |
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11. There is an echo of this in Cym.II.iii.20-1 |
12. From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
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12. sullen = gloomy, dark, miserable; |
13. For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings |
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13. thy sweet love remembered = when I have called to mind your love, when your sweet love springs up again in my memory. |
14. That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
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14. Although the primary meaning is that 'I am happier than a king could be, and therefore have no wish to swap places with him' there is a hint of the political meaning of state, i.e. nation state, as in 64: |