Page:Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale.djvu/98

88 O, that our night of woe might have remember'd My deepest sense, how hard true sorrow hits. O, that the memory of our night of suffering might have recalled (remember'd) to my inmost soul how hard a blow true sorrow strikes.

And the just pleasure lost, which is so deem'd Not by our feeling, but by others' seeing. 'And the legitimate pleasure lost, which is deemed vile, not by us who experience it, but by others who look on and condemn.' Dowden. 'And the lawful pleasure lost, which is judged vile from the point of view of others and not from any sense of shame on our part.' Wyndham.

In this sonnet Shakespeare explains why he gave away a blank book, a present from his friend. Compare sonnet 77.

Nor need I tallies thy dear love to score. This line alludes to the old custom of recording by cutting notches (scores) on a stick (tally).

And rather make them born to our desire Than think that we before have heard them told. 'We regard the wonderful works of to-day as the offspring of our own will, and forget that past ages produced the very same.' Beeching.

Weeds among weeds, or flowers with flowers gather'd. Time might weed it out with hate or gather it lovingly as a flower.

To this I witness call the fools of time, Which die for goodness, who have liv'd for crime. Scholars are not agreed as to the meaning of this obscure couplet. 'The fools of time' may be Essex and his followers; the Jesuits, condemned for plotting against the Crown; or any traitors who die piously.

''Hence, thou suborn'd informer! a true soul When most impeach'd stands least in thy control''. In this sonnet Shakespeare has asserted that he regards not outward appearance but the heart. Probably