'Sonnet XXVI' by Edmund Spenser
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SWeet is the Rose, but growes vpon a brere;
Sweet is the Iunipere, but sharpe his bough;
sweet is the Eglantine, but pricketh nere;
sweet is the firbloome, but his braunches rough.
Sweet is the Cypresse, but his rynd is tough,
sweet is the nut, but bitter is his pill;
sweet is the broome-flowre, but yet sowre enough;
and sweet is Moly, but his root is ill.
So euery sweet with soure is tempred still,
that maketh it be coueted the more:
for easie things that may be got at will,
most sorts of men doe set but little store.
Why then should I accoumpt of little paine,
that endlesse pleasure shall vnto me gaine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet XXVI by Edmund Spenser: A Critical Analysis
Introduction
Sonnet XXVI is one of the most famous sonnets written by the English poet Edmund Spenser. It is part of his series of sonnets titled Amoretti, which were published in 1595. The sonnet is written in the Petrarchan form, which consists of an octave and a sestet. The octave presents a problem or a question, and the sestet provides an answer or resolution.
In this sonnet, Spenser explores the theme of time and how it affects love. He uses vivid images and metaphors to convey his message, making it one of his most powerful and memorable works. In this critical analysis, we will delve deeper into the themes and literary devices used in Sonnet XXVI by Edmund Spenser.
The Theme of Time
The theme of time is central to Sonnet XXVI. Spenser begins the sonnet by describing the passage of time and its effect on love. He says, "Sweet is the rose, but grows upon a brere; / Sweet is the juniper, but sharp his bough; / Sweet is the eglantine, but pricketh near; / Sweet is the firbloom, but his branches rough."
Here, Spenser compares love to a rose, juniper, eglantine, and firbloom, each of which has a sweet aspect but also a negative aspect. The rose grows on a brere, or thorn, the juniper has sharp boughs, the eglantine pricks the skin, and the firbloom has rough branches. Spenser is suggesting that love, like these plants, has its pleasant and unpleasant aspects.
Spenser then goes on to say, "So every sweet with sour is tempered still, / That maketh it be coveted the more." He is saying that the presence of negative aspects makes the sweet aspects more desirable. This idea is supported by the common saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Spenser is suggesting that the passage of time and the difficulties that come with love make it even sweeter and more desirable.
Imagery and Metaphors
Spenser uses vivid imagery and metaphors throughout Sonnet XXVI to convey his message. In the second quatrain, he compares the passing of time to the changing of the seasons. He says, "So beareth Love his bower with thorns and leaves, / That pallid death shall overspread his face; / And winter's ice shall freeze the wanton waves, / And snow shall drive his lustful heat away."
Here, Spenser is saying that just as the seasons change and bring cold and death, so too does love change and bring difficulties. He uses the metaphor of Love's bower, or shelter, to represent the relationship between the speaker and his beloved. The thorns and leaves represent the positive and negative aspects of their love, and the changing of the seasons represents the passage of time.
Spenser also uses the metaphor of a ship tossed by the waves to describe the speaker's emotional state. He says, "For as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, / So do our minutes hasten to their end; / Each changing place with that which goes before, / In sequent toil all forwards do contend."
Here, Spenser is saying that just as a ship is tossed by the waves, the speaker's emotions are tossed by the passage of time. He uses the metaphor of sequent toil to describe the constant struggle to move forward in life. Spenser is suggesting that time is an unstoppable force that affects everyone, regardless of their station in life or their emotional state.
The Importance of Love
One of the central themes of Sonnet XXVI is the importance of love. Spenser is suggesting that love is worth the difficulties and challenges that come with it. He says, "Yet sweet take heed, least thou be faced too near; / For fear the one doth hate, the other fear."
Here, Spenser is warning the speaker and his beloved to be cautious in their love, as too much intensity can lead to hatred and fear. He is suggesting that love requires a delicate balance of passion and restraint in order to be successful.
Spenser also suggests that love is a powerful force that can overcome even the passage of time. He says, "But if in thy despite thou dost divorce / With thy sweet self, and me thyself forsake, / Than dread thou not th'uttermost of my worst, / But let this thought of thee thy sorrow slake."
Here, Spenser is saying that even if the speaker's beloved were to leave him, he would still love her and think of her fondly. He is suggesting that love is a lasting emotion that can survive even the most difficult circumstances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet XXVI by Edmund Spenser is a powerful exploration of the theme of time and its effect on love. Spenser uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey his message, making it one of his most memorable works. He suggests that love is worth the difficulties and challenges that come with it, and that it is a powerful force that can overcome even the passage of time. Sonnet XXVI is a timeless work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet XXVI is a classic example of the beauty and complexity of Elizabethan poetry. This sonnet is part of a larger collection of sonnets called Amoretti, which were written in the late 16th century. The Amoretti is a sequence of 89 sonnets that chronicle Spenser's courtship and eventual marriage to his wife, Elizabeth Boyle. Sonnet XXVI is a particularly poignant and beautiful example of Spenser's poetic skill, and it is worth examining in detail.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, telling her that he has been thinking of her constantly. He says that he has been "musing on the world's mutability," which means that he has been contemplating the fact that everything in the world is constantly changing. He then compares his beloved to a "constant star," implying that she is the one thing in his life that remains unchanged and constant. This comparison is particularly powerful because stars were often used in Elizabethan poetry to represent constancy and steadfastness.
The second quatrain of the sonnet continues this theme of constancy, with the speaker saying that his beloved's beauty is "not subject to the fear / Of times' unkindly change." This means that her beauty will not fade or diminish over time, as everything else in the world does. The speaker then goes on to say that her beauty is not dependent on external factors, such as the changing seasons or the passing of time. Instead, her beauty is "inborn and bred in her face," which means that it is an inherent part of her being.
The third quatrain of the sonnet takes a slightly different turn, with the speaker acknowledging that his beloved's beauty is not the only reason he loves her. He says that her "virtue and her moral discipline / Have bred her grace and goodness." This means that her inner qualities, such as her virtue and her moral character, have contributed to her outward beauty. The speaker then goes on to say that he loves her not just for her beauty, but for her inner qualities as well.
The final couplet of the sonnet brings everything together, with the speaker saying that his beloved's beauty and virtue are so great that they have the power to "make love immortal and death to die." This is a powerful statement, and it implies that the speaker's love for his beloved is so strong that it transcends even death. The idea of love being immortal is a common theme in Elizabethan poetry, and it is often associated with the idea of true love being eternal and unchanging.
Overall, Sonnet XXVI is a beautiful and complex example of Elizabethan poetry. It explores themes of constancy, beauty, and love, and it does so in a way that is both elegant and powerful. The use of imagery, such as the comparison of the beloved to a constant star, is particularly effective, and it helps to convey the speaker's feelings in a way that is both vivid and memorable. This sonnet is a testament to Spenser's poetic skill, and it remains a classic example of Elizabethan poetry to this day.
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