1. Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind,
2. And that which governs me to go about,
3. Doth part his function, and is partly blind,
4. Seems seeing, but effectually is out:
5. For it no form delivers to the heart
6. Of bird, of flower, or shape which it doth lack,
7. Of his quick objects hath the mind no part,
8. Nor his own vision holds what it doth catch:
9. For if it see the rudest or gentlest sight,
10. The most sweet favour or deformed'st creature,
11. The mountain, or the sea, the day or night:
12. The Crow or Dove, it shapes them to your feature.
13. Incapable of more replete, with you,
14. My most true mind thus maketh mine eye untrue.
True Mind, False Eye
Dedication: To Elizabeth
Explaining to Elizabeth that their separation has had such acute effects on him that he is even unable to do basic things much like the child he is alluding to as he seems to be referring to his eye. This eye which only has her form in mind and thus his eye is untrue. Which is meant to remind her of how she has already made his eye untrue with respect to viewing Henry as that which he is not.
1st Quatrain: (1-4)
Since leaving you, you are in my thoughts even to the exclusion of Henry (from line 3)
2nd Quatrain: (5-8)
Telling her that parting with her effects his ability to even love his son. And in line 7 refers contrastingly to the young child, again curiously gazing what he can grasp.
3rd Quatrain: (9-12)
Returning to his mind all he sees is in the shape of Elizabeth
couplet (13-14),
Thus without you my world and my ability to love are distorted. Again untrue has special meaning for Oxford who puns here on his name.
Commentary:
While the discussion of the poet’s mind as a metaphorical eye is the premise it is also to be evident to Elizabeth that Henry is inferred in the personal pronouns he and him. The substance of this poem is that Oxford’s loyalty to Elizabeth is powerful enough to contradict his vision. Which as we previously saw as a them begun in 150 and in 149 was a topic similarly discussed. Or 148 where he discussed the same disparity. While previously (114) the eye and the mind were separate, in this poem, they become one.
Lines 7 & 8 clearly alluding to still young Henry. Line 10 a clear contrast between favorable and unfavorable, line 11 is an allusion to things constant and ever present. With the likely intention of the deformed creature reminding her of what she has effectively done to Henry.
Line 12's proper nouns possibly reflects a biblical allusion to Noah's use of the a crow and a dove. The crow was apparently never heard from again. The dove returned once with nothing but eventually when sent again returned with an olive leaf. Symbolizing success. Of course the each have other meanings. Shakespeare likely played on these in the Phoenix and the Turtle written much later. While one might expect the crow to death it was actually long life, while the dove love (and Henry as the Phoenix is the dove's queen). The duality of each was possibly intended and all the more clever.
The couplet a reflection on Oxford's commitment again to Elizabeth in conveying his willingness to acquiesce to Henry's concealment. And again reflects what his eyes have not seen and the lie that originated this collection.
The references to the truth of the poet, a clue by virtue of the play on his name Vere once again. Line 14 both reminiscent of 150-148 and of course playing on Oxford being synonymous with truth. His family motto was Vero Nihil Verius which means nothing is more true than the truth. And a theme for which he expects to prevail over a scenario where his son is hidden away and denied both his true parents and his birth right. The separation in the poem is a continuation of the story.
Vendler remarks that 113 represents visual falsification. “My eye, while you’re away, shapes everything to your feature and reports a world identical to you”. While this is true in the general sense, it again complete misses the true nature of the poem. His eye is actually a play on Henry’s innocence and inability to judge what has been done to him as he is very likely still just a toddler of less than 3 years old as we will see shortly.
Note:
Some have speculated that the "bird of loudest lay" in The Phoenix and the Turtle was a punning reference to the composer William Byrd. I believe strongly not. Though Oxford apparently had a close relationship with him. And apparently for whatever reason signed over his family estate called Battails Hall in Essex to him. But again I would suggest that this connection to music and composers is more important and reveals Oxford's appreciation as well. But notable as well, Byrd wrote a piece entitled "The March before Battle, or The Earl of Oxford's March".