Shakespeare Sonnet 79

‘Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid’

Oct 5, 2008

The speaker of sonnet 79 addresses his Muse directly, sorting out once again his own contribution from that of the muse.

This speaker/poet has repeatedly demonstrated how obsessed he is with poetry creation. It is, indeed, ironic that he finds he can write even about complaining about not being able to write. This kind of devotion and determination finds expression over and over again. While he waits for what he believes to be true inspiration, he goes ahead and writes whatever he can to keep his creative juices flowing.

First Quatrain: “Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid”

In the first quatrain of sonnet 79, the speaker declares that when he depends solely on his muse for writing his sonnets, the poems “had all thy gentle grace.” But he now finds himself bereft of his muse, that is, another one of the pesky periods of writer’s block is assailing him. His “sick muse” is letting down, and he is failing to accumulate the number of sonnets he wishes to produce.

Second Quatrain: “I grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument”

The speaker/obsessed poet admits that “sweet love” deserves a better “argument” than he is presently capable of providing. He knows that such work demands “a worthier pen.” But when he finds himself in such a dry state, destitute of creative juices, he simply has to ransack his earlier work to “pay[ ] it thee again.”

To be able to offer at least some token, he has to “rob” what the muse had earlier given him. The act does not make him happy, but he feels that he must do something other than whine and mope.

Third Quatrain: “He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word”

Even such a thieving poet “lends thee virtue.” He metaphorically likens his reliance on the muse to the crime of theft. But he makes it clear that he gives the muse all of the credit for his ability even to steal. It is the “behaviour” and the “beauty” of the muse that lends him his talents.

He says he cannot accept praise for any of the works, because they all come from the muse: they are “what in thee doth live.” His talent and his inspiration that find happy expression in his works he always attributes to his muse. On those occasions that he becomes too full of himself, he pulls back humbly, even though he knows he has let the cat out of the bag.

The Couplet: “Then thank him not for that which he doth say”

Finally, the speaker avers that he is not deserving of any gratitude or even consideration by the muse. He insists that “what he owes thee thou thyself dost pay.” All that he may owe his muse is already contained in that muse, including any gratitude he may want to express.

The copyright of the article Shakespeare Sonnet 79 in British Poetry is owned by Linda Sue Grimes. Permission to republish Shakespeare Sonnet 79 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.