'Sonnet L' by Edmund Spenser
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LOng languishing in double malady,
of my harts wound and of my bodies greife:
there came to me a leach that would apply
fit medicines for my bodies best reliefe.
Vayne man (quod I) that hast but little priefe:
in deep discouery of the mynds disease,
is not the hart of all the body chiefe?
and rules the members as it selfe doth please.
Then with some cordialls seeke first to appease,
the inward languour of my wounded hart,
and then my body shall haue shortly ease:
but such sweet cordialls passe Physitions art.
Then my lyfes Leach doe you your skill reueale,
and with one salue both hart and body heale.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet L by Edmund Spenser: An Analysis
Edmund Spenser was one of the greatest English poets of the Renaissance period, and his works are still studied and celebrated today. Among his most famous pieces is Sonnet L, which is part of the sequence of sonnets known as Amoretti. In this sonnet, Spenser explores the theme of love, using language that is both beautiful and complex. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the form, the language, and the meaning of Sonnet L, and try to understand what Spenser was trying to convey through his words.
The Form of Sonnet L
Sonnet L follows the traditional structure of the sonnet, which consists of fourteen lines divided into two parts: the octave (eight lines) and the sestet (six lines). The rhyme scheme is also traditional: ABAB, BCBC, CDCD, EE. Each line has ten syllables, and the meter is iambic pentameter, which means that each line consists of five pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables. The sonnet is written in the English tradition, which means that it does not follow the strict rules of the Italian sonnet, but instead allows for more freedom in terms of structure and content.
The Language of Sonnet L
The language of Sonnet L is rich and complex, full of metaphors and allusions. The poem is addressed to a woman, and it expresses the speaker's love for her. The first quatrain sets the scene:
How heavy do I journey on the way,
When what I seek, my weary travel's end,
Doth teach that ease and that repose to say
"Thus far the miles are measured from thy friend!"
The speaker is on a journey, and he feels burdened by the distance between him and his beloved. He longs for the moment when he will reach his destination and be able to rest. The language is full of imagery: the "journey" is heavy, the "travel's end" is "weary," and the "miles" are measured from his friend. The use of the word "journey" suggests a long and difficult path, while the word "weary" implies exhaustion and fatigue. The second quatrain continues this theme:
The beast that bears me, tired with my woe,
Plods dully on, to bear that weight in me,
As if by some instinct the wretch did know
His rider loved not speed being made from thee.
The speaker compares himself to a rider on a "beast" (presumably a horse), which is "tired with my woe." The language is vivid and tactile: we can feel the weight of the rider on the horse's back, and we can almost hear the animal's labored breathing. The word "wretch" emphasizes the horse's misery, and the phrase "loved not speed being made from thee" suggests that the horse somehow knows that the speaker is not in a hurry to leave his beloved behind. The third quatrain introduces a new image:
The bloody spur cannot provoke him on
That sometimes anger thrusts into his hide;
Which heavily he answers with a groan,
More sharp to me than spurring to his side.
The speaker admits that he has tried to spur the horse on, but to no avail. He has used the "bloody spur" to try to force the animal to go faster, but even the pain of the spur is not enough to overcome the horse's reluctance. The language is violent and bloody, with the image of the spur piercing the horse's hide. The final couplet brings the poem to a conclusion:
For that same groan doth put this in my mind:
My grief lies onward and my joy behind.
The speaker realizes that the horse's groan is a reflection of his own grief, which lies ahead of him on his journey. The word "onward" suggests that the speaker is moving forward, but the word "behind" implies that he is also looking back at what he has left behind. The language is melancholy and bittersweet, with a sense of loss and longing.
The Meaning of Sonnet L
Sonnet L is a poem about the pain of separation and the longing for reunion. The speaker is on a journey, and he feels burdened by the distance between him and his beloved. He compares himself to a rider on a horse, which is also burdened by his grief. The horse's reluctance to move forward suggests that the speaker is not ready to leave his beloved behind. The use of the "bloody spur" implies that the speaker is willing to use force to overcome the obstacles in his way, but even this is not enough to overcome the horse's reluctance. The final couplet suggests that the speaker is torn between his grief and his joy, and that he is looking both forward and backward on his journey.
Conclusion
Sonnet L is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the theme of love and separation. Through the use of vivid imagery and complex language, Spenser conveys the speaker's longing for his beloved, and his pain at being separated from her. The poem is a masterful example of the sonnet form, and a testament to Spenser's skill as a poet.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's "Sonnet L" is a classic example of a sonnet, a 14-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. This particular sonnet is part of Spenser's larger work, "Amoretti," a collection of 89 sonnets that chronicle the poet's courtship of his wife, Elizabeth Boyle. "Sonnet L" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the themes of love, time, and mortality.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, telling her that he loves her more than anyone else in the world. He compares her to the sun, saying that just as the sun is the center of the universe, she is the center of his world. He also says that her beauty is eternal, and that even after she dies, her memory will live on.
The second quatrain of the poem shifts focus to the passage of time. The speaker acknowledges that time is constantly moving forward, and that everything in the world is subject to its effects. He says that even the most beautiful things in the world, like flowers and trees, eventually wither and die. However, he argues that his love for his beloved is different. Unlike the natural world, his love is not subject to the passage of time. He says that his love will continue to grow and flourish, even as everything else around them fades away.
The third quatrain of the poem takes a darker turn, as the speaker acknowledges the inevitability of death. He says that even though his love for his beloved is eternal, they will eventually be separated by death. He says that when this happens, he will be left alone in a world that is dark and empty. However, he also says that he will continue to love her even after she is gone, and that he will wait for the day when they can be reunited in the afterlife.
The final couplet of the poem brings everything together, as the speaker reaffirms his love for his beloved and his belief in its eternal nature. He says that even though they will be separated by death, their love will continue to exist, and that they will be reunited in the afterlife. He ends the poem by saying that their love will be a beacon of light in the darkness, shining brightly for all eternity.
Overall, "Sonnet L" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the themes of love, time, and mortality. Spenser's use of language and imagery is masterful, and he manages to convey a sense of both joy and sadness in his words. The poem is a testament to the power of love, and a reminder that even in the face of death, love can endure.
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