Sonnet 26
1. Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage
2. Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit;
3. To thee I send this written embassage
4. To witness duty, not to show my wit.
5. Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine
6. May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it;
7. But that I hope some good conceit of thine
8. In thy soul's thought (all naked) will bestow it:
9. Till whatsoever star that guides my moving,
10. Points on me graciously with fair aspect,
11. And puts apparel on my tatter'd loving,
12. To show me worthy of their sweet respect,
13. Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee,
14. Till then, not show my head where thou mayst prove me.
Sweet Respect
Dedication: To Henry
Paying homage to Henry and expressing his subordination and duty and explaining his reclusion till Henry proves him not doubt by becoming King.
1st Quatrain: (1-4)
Referring to Henry as Lord of his love (Henry was an Earl and thus a Lord). Referring to Henry's lineage as his merit, and Oxford’s fatherhood as his duty. Elements of dedication here
2nd Quatrain: (5-8)
Modestly expressing the poet’s own "poor" verse.
3rd Quatrain: (9-12)
Using again the sweet and fair that have come to be known associations with Henry and telling that Henry is guided to him and hopes that the heavens provide him with the necessities to make him worthy.
couplet (13-14),
Telling how he must lie low till Henry's coming out can then in turn provide Oxford his honor again.
Commentary:
An address of the shame Oxford feels and his commitment to remain secluded until Henry is recognized and thus provide a means to end the shame Oxford feels with regard to the way his most prized and cherished thing is treated along with the lack of respect and recognition that he himself receives. I feel that this and the next sonnet are strongly biographical. For this one I again offer the strong corroboration of Oxfords reclusion and now again his mention that he will now be showing up until Henry has been recognized. And thus providing the excuse of Oxford’s hermitical ways.
Most importantly is of course that the subject has an issue to resolve that reflects on the poet. This of course fits perfectly with the secret prince whose concealment is the source of the poet’s shame and the reason for his reclusiveness as mentioned.
In contrast to most thought to be written to the “Fair Youth”, “clearly this sonnet is to the young man. Personally I find it has expressions of fatherly love and certainly this sonnet bares some resemblance to the Venus and Adonis dedication. It also contains and another clear indication of the separation Oxford is experiencing from both Elizabeth and Henry. The references to putting apparel on Henry and mentions of his merit. This I would offer is a father speaking to his son in the language of someone subservient to a King.
In addition the address in line 1 to the “Lord of my love” is literally meant to be referring to a Lord as Henry was now the Earl of Southampton and the first born son befitting the title of Lord. However no doubt in Oxford’s mind the title should have been Prince and would have been were it not for his state of vassalage described in line 1.
Line 12 contains one of the 15 instances where “their” frequently appears as “thy” and an indication and affirmation I argue that reflects the sonnets actual greater metaphorical meaning as the possession shifts here to the stars and its their respect that the poet refers to. A further indication that the poet is looking to a great obligation and a higher calling for his objective.
Orthodox scholars seemingly have little to say regarding this sonnet. Vendler calls it the first epistolary sonnet. I feel what is certainly missing in their discussions is any motivation for this sonnet or even a comment on the time frame.