Response to One of William Shakespeare's poems I don't understand!

Hi Joyce,

I will try and respond to your question.

>What in general does this poem mean? I don't get the last 6 lines. Please help!

>My question is on the poem that says:

This is the voice of a man talking about his lover.

>In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes >For they in thee a thousand errors note; >But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise, >Who in despite of view is pleased to dote;

This is saying that although his eyes see lots of faults in his lover, his heart overlooks them.

>Nor are mine ears with thy tougue's tune delighted, >Nor tender feeling, to base touches prone, >Nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited >To any sensual feast with thee alone:

He doesn't necessarily like the sound of her voice/singing, nor the touch of her skin, nor how she smells, nor do any of these senses "individually" draw him to "feast" on her.

>But my five wits nor my five senses can >Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee, >Who leaves unsway'd the likeness of a man, >Thy proud hearts slave and vassal wretch to be: >Only my plague thus far I count my gain, >That she that make me sin awards me pain.

However, neither his wits nor all his five senses altogether can stop his foolish heart from serving her, this woman who is too much like a man. He considers himself a slave to her charms, and compares his attraction to her as a plague on his life, and the only reward he gets out of it is pain. His heart's attraction to her is having a battle with all 5 senses that are repulsed by her so it's not a sexual attraction--although there may be a sexual relationship going on here. Sound's more like something very dysfuntional going on here--a co- dependent relationship. She may be abusing him. I think the sin he is referring to is not religious in nature but the sin against himself-- allowing the abuse and keeping coming back for more.

Lori Eldridge BA in English/Creative Writing Past assistant editor of Willow Springs Literary Magazine Current Editor of 3 poetry pages at http://www.prophezine.com/poetry/

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