1. Alas 'tis true I have gone here and there,

2. And made myself a motley to the view,

3. Gored mine own thoughts, sold cheap what is most dear,

4. Made old offences of affections new.

5. Most true it is, that I have look'd on truth

6. Askance and strangely: But by all above,

7. These blenches gave my heart another youth,

8. And worse essays proved thee my best of love,

9. Now all is done, have what shall have no end,

10. Mine appetite I never more will grind

11. On newer proof, to try an older friend,

12. A God in love, to whom I am confined.

13. Then give me welcome, next my heaven the best,

14. Even to thy pure and most most loving breast.

A Motley to the View

Dedication: To Elizabeth

Starting with an admission of his poor and embarrassing behavior along with confessions of things for which he is not proud. However he points out the real truth is that he has looked on "truth" and thus argues that this is largely the source of his problems. Then telling Elizabeth that his love for her is what is truly his "best". Suggesting that he will no longer use his appeal for Henry to judge her. (A promise he can't keep) Finally telling her that her love is heaven on earth.

1^st Quatrain: (1-4)

General reflections again of Oxford's poor behavior that no doubt was probably mostly if not entirely the result of this wrong committed against him.

2^nd Quatrain: (5-8)

Line 5 a subtle reference to the truth of Henry. Line 7 the "another youth" bestowed on him a subtle reference to Henry.

3rd Quatrain: (9-12)

It is my belief that the “newer proof” is Henry and the “older friend” is Elizabeth in line 11. As she turns out to be the metaphorical “god in love” and to whom he is confined in line 12

couplet (13-14), Finishing off with an appeal to Elizabeth’s forgiveness comparing her loving breast above any other heaven he is likely to see.

Commentary:

In this sonnet Oxford is effectively telling Elizabeth that he will not seek to find the things for which she angers him and that he longs to once more be in her loving graces. To return to her maternal bosom, she served both roles as both mistress and mother by virtue of Oxford’s technically being a ward of the Queen although actual authority was delegated to Burghley as Master of the Court of Wards. Oxford expresses his own scandalous and embarrassing behavior and in addition, his complicity expressed elsewhere in line 4 with “sold cheap what is most dear”. The public humiliation alluded to was very much something Oxford would likely express this is likely a reference to his “Italianate” appearance and manners picked up in his travels to Italy. In addition the reference to selling cheap what is most dear alludes to deal making with respect to his behavior alluded to in Sonnet 111 and what was most dear the reason for these sonnets and again their connectedness. This is an odd example where Elizabeth seems to be the one referred to as “an older friend” but one also referred to as “god in love” who is the greatest of the most loving, which alludes better to Elizabeth’s maternal caring for her nation.

Many orthodox scholars have tried to read the motley reference as a reflection of Shakespeare’s opinion of his profession as actor, instead of the obvious very personal reference that it is. Oxford was in Italy from May 1575 to March 1576 so he missed Henry’s first birthday and does not seem to have marked the passage of either his first or second birthdays. Possibly a reference to Oxford bringing back some of the Venetian dress that he was much criticized for. But the real problem for him was the scandal that welcomed him with the dispute over the legitimacy of his wife’s pregnancy, to which the faint reference again to his scandal still likely stems.

Vendler sees the commonality of 110 and 109 having a reference to the “breast of the beloved as the home to which the speaker returns”. Also remarks that somehow this sonnet admits infidelity (line 4 evidently) which she interprets as “I have taken up new affections” and that the offences seem aimless and unconnected. Perhaps she would better understand their connection if she understood that: His going here and there as a physical escape Oxford tried; His selling dear things cheap, as his complicity in the plot to conceal Henry; His continuing to hold Elizabeth to account even as she renewed a relationship with him; and lastly he has let himself be duly deceived of Henry’s true nature as have others.