1. Against that time (if ever that time come)
2. When I shall see thee frown on my defects,
3. When as thy love hath cast his utmost sum,
4. Call'd to that audit by advised respects,
5. Against that time when thou shalt strangely pass,
6. And scarcely greet me with that sun thine eye,
7. When love, converted from the thing it was,
8. Shall reasons find of settled gravity.
9. Against that time do I ensconce me here
10. Within the knowledge of mine own desert,
11. And this my hand against myself uprear,
12. To guard the lawful reasons on thy part,
13. To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws,
14. Since why to love, I can allege no cause.
Though Hast the Strength of Laws
Dedication: To Elizabeth
Oxford is reflecting on two notions, Elizabeth’s demise and her recognition of Henry. When she will look down on Oxford and view him through her metaphorical eye the sun (which again represents Henry). And metaphorically plays on the sun (Son) settling down and finding his place on earth. He tells her that until then he shall remain where he is, where he deserves to be. And that Elizabeth has the power to leave him and has while he is exiled. Finally that he recognizes she has no reason to love him.
1st Quatrain: (1-4)
Oxford foretelling and preparing Elizabeth for his own demise in line 1. Alluding to Elizabeth reflecting on his deficiencies in line 2. Comparing himself being cast away to Elizabeth's doing the same to Henry in line 3. Discussing his own judgement day in line 4.
2nd Quatrain: (5-8)
Now preparing Elizabeth for her demise in line 5. Using "strangely" as if to tell her that it actually will happen since she seems both unprepared and possibly acting as if unaware. Punning on sun and telling Elizabeth that will be converted into the heavens and the sun will be her eye in line 6. Telling her that their love will no longer be what it was and alluding to her/their joining the earth in "settle gravity" in line 7 & 8.
3rd Quatrain: (9-12)
Telling her that from these inevitable contingencies he retreats into his place of deserving. That he admonishes himself and acknowledges that justness of her cause.
couplet (13-14),
Telling her that she has indeed the power to take his wealth (Henry) and acknowledging her justification for her withholding her love
Commentary:
Expressing the possible passing of Elizabeth, which no doubt seems that it may not happen as she defies the life span of period, he tells of how she’ll become one with the sun. A frequent ploy he made to also remind her of their son. He in fact made quite a spectacle of himself once in declaring himself “Knight of the Tree of the Sonne” for a jousting tournament. A metaphorical usage to represent that he was protector of the Tree (Elizabeth) of the princely son (Henry). While this tournament was not until 1581 and we have not likely reached that year yet in the sonnets. Keep in mind that the sun is an important metaphor and symbol for his young prince Henry. One of the most clearly written sonnets to Elizabeth and one much understood when the third person reference to “his” is understood as referring to Henry. Oxford tells that he is ensconced again probably in Hackney and will return both to favor and physically back from his self imposed exile when Henry has been made King. He mentions his own deserving of his exile and this as his way of self-punishment. He explains though that while he may have physically removed himself, Elizabeth is really the source of the separation). One of the clearest examples of why it is to Elizabeth is line 13 where the poet tells his subject that she is advantaged in separating herself from him by the “strength of laws”. But the key to the sonnet is really the reference to the sun (meant as a play on son) as self (eye) which will continue to gaze on the poet though barely when the subject departs.
Vendler makes no mention of the oddity of the poet commenting on the inevitability that the love will pass. Unless it is not understood that pass is death. Clearly it is not terribly fitting within the orthodox perspective that the poet should so clearly expect to outlive his love especially at this supposed early point.
Of course the other thing missing in the orthodox reading is the significance the sun thine eye after the subject dies. The play on sun/son and the metaphor of the sun rising should be very clear though and unless understood the way I’m presenting should be seen as rather strange and enigmatic.