1. Alack, what poverty my Muse brings forth,
2. That having such a scope to show her pride,
3. The argument all bare is of more worth
4. Than when it hath my added praise beside.
5. O, blame me not if I no more can write!
6. Look in your glass, and there appears a face,
7. That over-goes my blunt invention quite,
8. Dulling my lines, and doing me disgrace,
9. Were it not sinful then striving to mend,
10. To mar the subject that before was well,
11. For to no other pass my verses tend,
12. Than of your graces and your gifts to tell;
13. And more, much more, than in my verse can sit,
14. Your own glass shows you when you look in it.
Your Gifts to Tell
Dedication: To Elizabeth
Reflecting first on the artificial poverty created by Elizabeth's treatment of Henry in reference to her as Oxford's muse. Reflecting on the notion that Elizabeth finds greater value in her virginity than his paternity. Commenting that the argument for Henry is stronger without his advocacy, but it has it nonetheless. Continuing on with the muse theme and questioning how he is to write in such frustration (implied). Offering Elizabeth that she is more beautiful than his verse and that it is inadequate for her beauty. Thus he asks rhetorically if it is not sin to try and renew her with Henry when there is nothing to fix. Commenting that all of his verse is of this same theme, both her graces and her secret “gift” that she conceals. Finishing with a comment on the self evidence of his assertions when she admires herself.
1st Quatrain: (1-4)
Line 1, referring to Elizabeth and the of this self imposed “poverty” she has created. In line 2 comments on how she has the method to show her pride (Henry). In line 3, the argument (Henry) all by itself needs no further embellishment even of the poets praise in line 4.
2nd Quatrain: (5-8)
In line 5 he tells Elizabeth that her looks are too much for even he to express them. In explaining to Elizabeth that "appears a face" in line 6 he explains to her the self evident nature of her need to live on. Going on in line 7 and 8 to reiterate the praise of her and reinforcing his lack of poetic skill to capture.
3rd Quatrain: (9-12)
Line 9 he tells him that his striving to mend (w/ Elizabeth). The sinfulness in line 9, I believe refers to Henry's concealment but might also be the problem of Oxford's and Elizabeth's relationship and their unrecognized marriage producing a child. Line 10 and 11 tells us that continuing Elizabeth's through Henry is not meant to be a reflection on a flaw in her. Line 12 alludes to Henry's unknown status in his "gifts to tell".
couplet (13-14),
The couplet tells Elizabeth of the self evident nature of what he says by virtue of her beauty which is both implied by the message and implied that she must pass it on. This "beauty" is important in these sonnets and a method of referring to Henry.
Commentary:
This is the first instance where Oxford speaks of Elizabeth as his Muse. It is fitting Oxford writes of Elizabeth as his Muse as he claims that her legacy is his purpose and the thing for which he constantly strives and writes for. The poverty expressed, an allusion to the withholding of her child and demonstration of the connectedness of the sonnets.
The appeal to the subject to examine their appearance as a means of validating the point is much more sensible here than via the orthodox approach. The "gifts to tell" a clear allusion to something unknown which by the connectedness we can see is Henry. While the poverty is effectively a new metaphor the notion of associating Henry with payment goes back to 134 and in addition this association will become again a prevalent theme in sonnets to come. Additionally I would argue that the poverty discussed in this poem is again a prelude to procreation sonnets to come.
The poverty and desolation of this poem lies in stark contrast to the beauty and bounty provided in the previous poem as a celebration of Henry. Henry will literarily be referred to as the “bounteous largess” in sonnet 4 to come.
The pride of line 2 reflects an allusion to a child as Shakespeare utilizes similarly in Toilus and Cressida (I, iii) with "the seeded pride" and in King Henry VI, part I (III, i), "As very infants prattle of thy pride". And similarly used in 144, 130, 104, 99.
Line 5 speaks of the poet no more being able to write, which leads me to speculate that Elizabeth actually may have largely and strangely enjoyed these sonnets. And likely sought them from Oxford though perhaps not specifically about the subject matter we witness here. Perhaps there were many other sonnets though I have little doubt that most and certainly all here were expressly for the purpose of convincing Elizabeth to change her course.
Line 7 reveals a self-referential allusion to his own verse as he does elsewhere in 105, 76, 38 and in Measure for Measure (II, iv) but likely with an allusion to a child as well as in All's Well that Ends Well (I, iii).
Line 12 usage of gift is also an allusion to the child and used similarly to Cymbeline (V, iv) among others.
Also in general clearly Elizabeth enjoyed Oxford’s writing and likely saw his value to England in terms of inspiring patriotism through his history plays. However it is quite early for this. Never the less the reason for it was similar to her reasons for maintaining her reputation of virginity. Orthodox interpretations would have us believe that this sonnet is written to a young man but in actuality there is no evidence of this. That assumption comes from the belief that this whole series 1- 126 is written to a male. But the usage of the third person her in line 2 is used in connection with the pride for which she has the opportunity to show and suggests otherwise. Understanding this sonnet involves understanding that the argument of the poet is the larger overarching subject of these sonnets.