1. Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,

2. When not to be receives reproach of being,

3. And the just pleasure lost, which is so deemed,

4. Not by our feeling, but by others' seeing.

5. For why should others false adulterate eyes

6. Give salutation to my sportive blood?

7. Or on my frailties why are frailer spies;

8. Which in their wills count bad what I think good?

9. No, I am that I am, and they that level

10. At my abuses, reckon up their own,

11. I may be straight though they themselves be bevel

12. By their rank thoughts, my deeds must not be shown

13. Unless this general evil they maintain,

14. All men are bad, and in their badness reign.

Reign of Evil

Dedication: To Elizabeth

Commenting on the how poorly he is treated by the men in power surrounding Elizabeth and how they judge him and rebuke Henry. The poet expresses defiance and argues that that it is the others whose perceptions and actions are wrong.

1^st Quatrain: (1-4)

Commenting on the greater dignity in merely being vile than being respected for it in line 1. However continuing in line 2 when he remarks on the irony of how Henry receives such foul treatment when he supposedly doesn't exist. In line 3 that the joy of his birth is lost. That in line 4 is really the illusion created his not being seen.

2^nd Quatrain: (5-8)

Line 4, I believe is a reference to those in the know who or at least those who would judge Elizabeth and Oxford by the belief that they were not married. I get the impression that Oxford believes that they were married. Line 6 asks rhetorically why he is the recipient of wanton expressions. Lines 7 and 8 comment on likely actual spies (Burghley no doubt had many but perhaps Walsingham as well played a part here) can have the sanctimony to comment on his weaknesses and look on Henry as a problem.

3rd Quatrain: (9-12)

Line 9, he has the audacity to quote God in his speech to Moses as many have commented. Oxford does this as well in a letter to Lord Burghley, undoubtedly a uniquely blasphemous statement. He continues to comment that those who make accusations should answer for their own faults. That he is correct and they are wrong (loosely)

couplet (13-14),

Finally offering how this episode reveals a larger truth in his eyes, that men are evil and in their evil they exercise their authority.

Commentary:

This sonnet contains a new and autobiographical marker of the poet’s own problems and the scandal that plagued him. The false “adulterate eyes” of others are an important clue of the scandal caused by the subject matter of these poems. In line 9 the poet declares "I am that I am" which is a known de Vere blasphemy which few others would likely dare. This poem also reflects the need of the poet to respond to scandal that seems unknown to our man from Stratford but something Edward de Vere was unfortunately quite well acquainted.

I already argued that the previous is the first procreation sonnet in a sense. Here it is almost revealed that the poet is involved in the procreation with the comment of his “sportive blood”. This poem is Oxford at his most defensive and rationalizing. He states who he is and that all have their sins to answer for. It is really the first introspective sonnet containing a discussion of the poet’s own fallibility and guilt in committing sin. I personally feel that this sonnet represents the very first efforts of acceptance amongst the stages of grief. Though I don’t think Oxford ever actually reaches acceptance and thus is probably a figure and supporter of the final attempt to overthrow Elizabeth’s government when she was simply too old and the situation was to desperate to wait any longer.

Line 2 is a variation of “to be or not to be” in relation to Henry’s unrecognized situation. Line 4 is another reference to the poet’s sight but this time what others can not see, a variation of his sight being the one distorted from previous sonnets. Line 8, that which I think good is reminiscent of the subjects of sonnets 14 and 149.

While Booth remarks on the smugness of the I am that I am, Vendler defends as per her usual attitude toward Shakespeare and observes that the anger of the sonnet is the reason but she offers no other explanation for it.

I would argue that the reason why "Cardanus Comfort" Bedingfield's translation of Cardano's "De consolatione" (a work for the grief stricken) was both associated with and dedicated to Oxford in 1573 and that this was the source of Oxford's grieving was possibly both initial seemingly temporary concealment and then likely the complete concealment and the placement in the Southampton household. I think that this is an important corroborating detail. And the other corroborating detail is Oxford's seemingly erratic behaviour and his leaving for the Continent. Only to be ordered back and eventually allowed to leave. I would suggest he was unable to contain his anguish and anger at the more permanent disguisal of his son's identity.