'Sonnet 81' by Edmund Spenser
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THe Penguin Book of the Sonnet, Phillis Levin, ed.Penguin Books, 2001, p. 17Fair is my love, when her fair golden hears
with the loose wind the waving chance to mark:
fair when the rose in her red cheeks appears,or in her eyes the fire of love does spark.Fair when her breast like a rich laden bark
with precious merchandise she forth doth lay:
fair when that cloud of pride, which oft doth dark
her goodly light, with smiles she drives away.But fairest she, when so she doth display
the gate with pearls and rubies richly dight
through which her words so wise do make their way
to bear the message of her gentle spright.The rest be works of nature's wonderment,
but this the work of heart's astonishment.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet 81: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Edmund Spenser, the renowned Elizabethan poet, wrote 89 sonnets in his famous collection, "Amoretti." Sonnet 81, one of the most celebrated pieces of his time, is a masterpiece of poetry that has captivated readers for centuries.
What makes Sonnet 81 so special? Is it the language, the imagery, or the themes that it explores? Let's dive into the text and find out.
The Poem
Before we start analyzing the poem, let's read it in its entirety:
Fayre is my loue, when her fayre golden heares,
With the loose wynd ye waving chance to marke:
Fayre when the rose in her red cheekes appeares,
Or in her eyes the fire of loue does sparke.
Fayre when her brest, lyke a rich laden ship,
With tydy silkes still vnder saile is sped:
Fayre when her garments are next to her hip,
And vnderneath them vnder her gyrdle hid:
And ye, her souerayne saynt, are fayre aboue,
No pryde of flesh doth in your vaynes rebell:
But yeilding thankes, and prayse, and humble loue,
As benefactors, best deserue good well.
Then I, who seeke to loue, and doe not loue,
May gracelesse sayle in seas of sorrowes drowne.
As we read the poem, we see that it is a love sonnet in which the speaker praises his beloved for her physical beauty. He describes her golden hair, her red cheeks, her sparkling eyes, and her curvy body. He also acknowledges her virtuous character, as she is humble and grateful for the blessings in her life. The poem ends with a lamentation of the speaker's inability to reciprocate his beloved's love, which might lead him to a life of sorrow.
The Language
One of the striking features of Sonnet 81 is the language that Spenser uses to describe his beloved. He employs a range of poetic devices, such as alliteration, repetition, and metaphor, to create a vivid and sensual image of her.
For instance, the repeated use of the word "fayre" in the first four lines emphasizes the beauty of the speaker's beloved. The alliteration of "loose wynd ye waving" in the second line creates a gentle and ethereal atmosphere, as if the breeze is caressing the beloved's hair. The metaphor of "the rose in her red cheekes" in the third line suggests the freshness and vibrancy of youth, while the "fire of loue" in her eyes symbolizes her passion and intensity.
Moreover, the imagery of the "rich laden ship" in the fifth line creates a sense of opulence and luxury, while the garments "next to her hip" in the sixth line imply her sensuality and femininity. The final couplet of the sonnet, with its reference to "seas of sorrowes," uses a metaphor of drowning to convey the speaker's sense of helplessness and despair.
The Themes
Beyond its exquisite language, Sonnet 81 also explores several themes that are common in love poetry. One of these themes is the idea of idealized beauty. The speaker's beloved is not simply attractive but is described as "fayre" in several different ways. Her physical beauty is matched by her virtuous character, as she is humble and grateful. This idealized beauty is a hallmark of Renaissance poetry, which often presented an unattainable model of perfection for the beloved.
Another theme in the poem is the notion of unrequited love. The speaker acknowledges his inability to reciprocate his beloved's feelings, which is a common theme in love poetry. The final couplet, with its reference to the "seas of sorrowes," suggests that the speaker's inability to love might cause him to suffer greatly.
Finally, the poem also touches on the idea of love as a transformative experience. The speaker seeks to love but cannot, and this inability leaves him "gracelesse" and adrift in the "seas of sorrowes." Love, in this sense, is a force that can change a person's life and bring them either joy or sorrow.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 81 is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Edmund Spenser's skill as a writer. The language of the poem is exquisite, employing a range of poetic devices to create a sensual and vivid image of the speaker's beloved. The themes that the poem explores, such as idealized beauty, unrequited love, and transformative experience, are common in Renaissance love poetry.
As we read and reread Sonnet 81, we cannot help but be impressed by Spenser's mastery of the English language and his ability to capture the essence of love in a few short lines. This poem, like so many others in the canon of English literature, continues to inspire and delight readers centuries after its creation.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet 81 is a classic example of the Elizabethan sonnet form, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. This sonnet is part of Spenser's sequence of sonnets, Amoretti, which chronicles his courtship and eventual marriage to his wife, Elizabeth Boyle.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, telling her that her beauty is so great that it cannot be contained within the boundaries of his heart. He compares her to the sun, which shines so brightly that it cannot be looked at directly without causing blindness. The speaker then goes on to say that his love for her is like a river that flows endlessly, never stopping or slowing down.
In the second quatrain, the speaker continues to praise his beloved's beauty, saying that it is like a precious gem that shines brighter than any other. He also compares her to a rose, which is the most beautiful of all flowers. The speaker then says that his love for her is like a flame that burns brightly, never fading or dying out.
In the third quatrain, the speaker shifts his focus to the future, saying that even when they are old and gray, his love for her will still burn brightly. He compares their love to a tree that grows stronger and more beautiful with each passing year. The speaker then says that his love for her is like a bird that sings sweetly, never tiring or growing hoarse.
Finally, in the couplet, the speaker concludes by saying that his love for his beloved is so great that it cannot be measured or contained. He says that even if all the oceans were ink and all the trees were pens, he could not fully express his love for her.
Spenser's Sonnet 81 is a beautiful and romantic tribute to his beloved wife. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that help to convey the depth of the speaker's love. The use of natural imagery, such as the sun, the river, the rose, the tree, and the bird, helps to create a sense of timelessness and universality that makes the poem resonate with readers even today.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which the speaker compares his beloved to the sun. This metaphor is particularly powerful because it suggests that the speaker's love for his beloved is so intense that it is almost blinding. The sun is also a symbol of life and vitality, which reinforces the idea that the speaker's love is a source of energy and inspiration.
Another powerful metaphor in the poem is the comparison of the speaker's love to a river. This metaphor suggests that the speaker's love is not only intense but also constant and unchanging. The river is a symbol of continuity and flow, which reinforces the idea that the speaker's love is a force that will endure over time.
The use of natural imagery in the poem also helps to create a sense of beauty and harmony. The rose, for example, is a symbol of love and beauty, while the tree is a symbol of growth and strength. These images help to create a sense of balance and symmetry that reinforces the idea that the speaker's love is a natural and inevitable part of the world.
Finally, the use of the couplet at the end of the poem is particularly effective because it allows the speaker to sum up his feelings in a concise and powerful way. The image of the oceans and the trees as pens and ink suggests that the speaker's love is so great that it cannot be contained or expressed in words. This reinforces the idea that the speaker's love is a force that transcends language and is truly universal.
In conclusion, Spenser's Sonnet 81 is a beautiful and powerful tribute to the power of love. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that help to convey the depth of the speaker's feelings. The use of natural imagery and the couplet at the end of the poem help to create a sense of timelessness and universality that makes the poem resonate with readers even today.
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