1. Oh, from what power hast thou this powerful might,

2. With insufficiency my heart to sway,

3. To make me give the lie to my true sight,

4. And swear that brightness doth not grace the day?

5. Whence hast thou this becoming of things ill,

6. That in the very refuse of thy deeds,

7. There is such strength and warrantise of skill,

8. That, in my mind, thy worst all best exceeds?

9. Who taught thee how to make me love thee more,

10. The more I hear and see just cause of hate,

11. Oh though I love what others do abhor,

12. With others thou shouldst not abhor my state.

13. If thy unworthiness raised love in me,

14. More worthy I to be beloved of thee.

Seeing Differently

Dedication: To Elizabeth

Oxford comments to Elizabeth on her great power, but that it won't be able to convince him not to see what he sees (his young son, which no one else will recognize). The act of having Henry unused betrays all good that she can do. He loves her even as he has "just cause of hate". Asking her not to join the others who scorn Henry and mock him. Finishing with the question and notion that if her unworthiness has created greater love in him, is he not now more worthy of her?

1^st Quatrain: (1-4)

The "power" of line 1 is not merely "power of love" but also the power of a monarch. In line 2, Oxford is expressing his independence to her conspiracy to conceal Henry. More importantly the "lie" in line 3 is the real subject. In line 4 provides the allusion that this lie is about something the poet finds so joyous of which the poet asks rhetorically how it is not the “brightness” that does not "grace the day".

2^nd Quatrain: (5-8)

The refuse of thy deeds is I believe a reference to Elizabeth's denial. One can only imagine the strength and determination one might have to deny one's own child as the poet makes reference in line 7. This very denial is "thy worst" which to the poet's chagrin is exceeding his child (her "best").

3rd Quatrain: (9-12)

Line 9 tells of how Henry taught him to love Elizabeth even more than he did. In line 10, he asks rhetorically if what he hears and sees (Henry), as opposed to what is not supposed to exist, can truly be a "just cause of hate". Line 11 tells of how few see what he sees and this is directly related to the very that is the subject of this poem. For thHe goes on to plead that she not join those that “abhor” Henry in line 12.

couplet (13-14),

Oxford seemingly insulting Elizabeth by saying if ‘thy unworthiness” (Henry) brings him such love than that unworthiness makes him more fit to be the love of her and because of her own unworthiness by virtue of her misdeed.

Commentary:

In some ways continuing on the theme of the previous sonnet, that of dependency on Elizabeth and with more overt references to her power. The poem however shifts back in to the main context and its real importance to the story. The poet being asked to pretend a very real physical reality is not as he sees it. This lie seen in line 3 is again with respect to the poet’s sight as we saw in the couplet of 152. The lie itself is tantamount to this story and will be important in understanding the future evil and darkness used to address the subject. Also displayed are references to disbelief illustrating initial stage of psychological impact and the arrow of time.

Line 8 merits specific mention as a question to Elizabeth that her “worst” (this deed) should exceed all her “best” (herself) which can be provided through her progeny and be her legacy. This is a variation of a question Oxford will ask her in sonnet 112 line 4, in relation to his problems being exceeded by that which he has provided by his “best” (Henry).

Additionally line 4 establishes a relationship in the poet's mind between Henry and sunshine. Certainly this captures the understandable reaction of any proud father to the birth of what is very likely his first born. The connection never the less between Henry and the sun will become increasingly important as a larger metaphor is established linking Henry to the Sun. The sonnets ending is actually quite a clever play on Henry as the unworthiness which he loves, and thus this loving of unworthiness making him more worthy of loving her.

While what seems to have been guilt in the previous sonnet has transformed into Oxford’s independence from aiding in Elizabeth’s conspiracy. Oxford's loyalty will continue to be an important theme and the virtue of his cause will be the service of his loyalty to Elizabeth and her best interests despite her own notions of them.

The subject expressed in this poem appears to be something that the poet alone finds glorious and fortuitous. Though it is so hard to tell from just the sonnets. However likely this was the case in Henry’s early childhood when few were thinking of succession. I believe like this will change as King James VI of Scotland was ready to assume the throne and Henry becomes more of an known commodity. As mentioned I believe that there certainly is evidence of the loyalty to him and the conspiracy and attempt to place him on the Throne during the Essex Rebellion of 1601 and even possibly the Gun Powder Plot of 1605. There was also a bit of a political and religious incongruity here with Henry the son of Elizabeth growing up Catholic while her nephew the son of Mary, Queen of Scots growing up protestant. It likely made for some strange allegiances.

The orthodox reading of the sonnet is that this is an expression of “nonsense” and is also characterized as a hyperbole which is found to run through these sonnets. In contrast I offer that this poem describes a situation that was both very real to the poet and distressing enough to warrant usage of the phrase “just cause of hate”. In addition the source of his love being what others abhor is now clearer and hopefully much better understood than other’s posits that it is an expression of his love for his mistress, who is thought to be a whore and thus the unworthy of love. While the subject’s power in this poem might merely seem metaphorical and an expression of captivation by the poet to the subject, this power will materialize in sonnets to come in a much more understandable way a representing a sovereign ruler.

KDJ points out the similarity of presentation to Cleopatra, who is “praised by Anthony even when she is quarrelsome”, which is actually an insightful remark observing the disparate relationship that existed in the play and a fitting allusion to another queen.