1. If thou survive my well-contented day,

2. When that churl death my bones with dust shall cover

3. And shalt by fortune once more re-survey:

4. These poor rude lines of thy deceased Lover:

5. Compare them with the bettering of the time,

6. And though they be outstripp'd by every pen,

7. Reserve them for my love, not for their rhyme,

8. Exceeded by the height of happier men.

9. O, then vouchsafe me but this loving thought,

10. 'Had my friend's Muse grown with this growing age,

11. A dearer birth than this his love had brought

12. To march in ranks of better equipage:

13. But since he died and poets better prove,

14. Theirs for their style I'll read, his for his love.'

A Dearer Birth

Dedication: To Elizabeth

Contemplating the possibility of Elizabeth being the one to survive him, he asks her to remember the poem as remembrance of his love not its poetic value. Then reminding her of the possibility that Henry having grown as a prince would have been a much “dearer birth”. And finishing again with a request that she read his poems for the expression of his love not their style.

1^st Quatrain: (1-4)

Speculating that Elizabeth might actually outlive him.

2^nd Quatrain: (5-8)

Telling her to prize his verse for the love expressed not the words.

3rd Quatrain: (9-12)

Telling her to reflect on the "what if"of Henry's recognition, referring to Oxford as the friend and Henry as the friends Muse. Telling her of the greater significance of his birth than merely a loving child.Explaining to her that Henry should have joined the rank of prince in line 12.

couplet (13-14),

Again asking Elizabeth modestly to read other poets for their style but his for his love

Commentary:

Oxford expressing the thought that he is looking forward to death and possibility that Elizabeth may outlive him. This depression is also consistent with his now humble claim of his verse being outdone by every other poet and only suitable for remembering for the love expressed within. An expression, as I must point out, of love misunderstood unless the underlying topic is understood. In addition he makes the one thought clear, that Elizabeth had not adapted and grown with the age to do the thing which he desired, recognize their son, something which was quite unorthodox for someone in Elizabeth’s position. Lastly though is the expression that Henry’s birth was more significant and more important than the love enjoined between Oxford and Elizabeth by it.

Scholars remark of the tone of this sonnet being depressed and resentful without any idea why. Talk of the poet’s death should reflect on this being a sonnet written later in the poet’s life. Both this sonnet and sonnet 31 are supposed to contain over sexual innuendo that is supposed to continue “mindlessly” as Stephen Booth comments on (sort of).

Vendler has the poet speaking of the well contented day foretold by 29 but seemingly has no explanation why the poet is either “least contented” or for what the poet “most enjoyed”.