1. Th’ expense of Spirit in a waste of shame

2. Is lust in action, and till action, lust

3. Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame,

4. Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust,

5. Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight,

6. Past reason hunted, and no sooner had

7. Past reason hated, as a swallowed bait

8. On purpose laid to make the taker mad.

9. Made In pursuit and in possession so,

10. Had, having, and in quest, to have extreme,

11. A bliss in proof and proud and very woe,

12. Before a joy proposed behind a dream,

13. All this the world well knows yet none knows well,

14. To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.

In Quest to Have

Dedication: To Elizabeth

The waste Elizabeth creates by not utilizing Henry. Then detailing the extremity and a overall characterization of the crime. Alluding to the short duration he was the poet's. Expressing how this crime has driven him mad. And finishing with an allusion of how the world knows of Elizabeth's supposed virginity and lack of heir but not the truth. Finally, that her denial of Henry is "To shun heaven" which "leads men" (and him specifically) to his "hell".

1^st Quatrain: (1-4)

Henry is the expense of Elizabeth's spirit, the "waste of shame"

2^nd Quatrain: (5-8)

Expressing Elizabeth's irrational hatred of Henry and accusing her of cruelly trying to make him crazy

3rd Quatrain: (9-12)

Expressing her own greed and vanity making her require ever more benefit as the sole means of attention despite her having had plenty already.

couplet (13-14),

Alluding to what the world doesn't know despite their knowing of her excess and shunning the heaven provided for by an heir for this hell of no succession.

Commentary:

This sonnet mostly reflects the immense waste that surrounds Elizabeth’s actions resulting in the waste of Henry. This sonnet is important for the exposition it provides in terms of explaining the early joy of Elizabeth's birth turning into the subject that haunts and drives him to madness. And further provides that this mistreatment is fully the justification Oxford has for his feelings.

I think again the usage of Spirit as a proper noun is clearly reflective of a reference to Henry. The waste of Henry which will become a much more explored theme in sonnets to come. The essential nature of this sonnet is the subject’s shunning what should rightfully be considered a gift. It contains the continuation of common themes of the crime and waste committed. What should have been a joy has become something hated.

An example of typographic accuracy is line 9 where "Made" alluding to Henry's creation is converted to "Mad" and thought to be a repetition of line mad in line 8. But it should also be seen in the context of the thing worth being enjoyed enjoyed and created in the state of lust.

In addition the poet alludes to the broader repercussions of the deed and how this is relevant for the whole world. But importantly as well is to think both about what the source of heaven could have been and to realize how important that this subject was to Oxford. As I maintain it was the motivation for virtually the entire oeuvre of Shake-Speare.

In addition the poet adds the thought that the motivation for this crime was to make him “mad” as in crazed. This again shows the development of our poet’s feelings as he still struggles to cope with the thought of this loss and worse has no ability to let go as his loss still has the potential for reversal. This leads to the whole point of the sonnets as arguments for the reversal and even suggestions for how it may become more palatable as we’ve seen. This I believe is also the motivation for tempest in "The Tempest" as a storm that only seemingly has done great damage but is the artificial work of greater power. Additionally as well the madness of Hamlet should also be seen and as subject intimately familiar to Shakespeare.

The orthodox reading of this poem frequently believes the use of the word lust implies physical lust. When in actuality the lust is a lust for the poet’s preferred resolution and satisfaction.

Vendler points out the use of an impersonal voice to start, which ends up being discarded. This effect was no doubt done on purpose as a crescendo of emotions and anger floods out of him, ultimately culminating in a couplet that expresses the singular nature of the source of his anger.