1. My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still,

2. While comments of your praise, richly compiled,

3. Reserve their Character with golden quill,

4. And precious phrase by all the Muses filed.

5. I think good thoughts, whilst other write good words,

6. And like unletter'd clerk still cry 'Amen'

7. To every Hymn that able spirit affords

8. In polish'd form of well-refined pen.

9. Hearing you praised, I say ''Tis so, 'tis true,'

10. And to the most of praise add something more;

11. But that is in my thought, whose love to you,

12. (Though words come hindmost) holds his rank before.

13. Then others, for the breath of words respect,

14. Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect.

His Rank Before

Dedication: To Henry & Posterity

Speaks of how his silent muse (no doubt because of his youth), Henry, has an effect on Elizabeth to “hold her still”. Then suggesting that there are many others that write of his praises. Speaks of his own inadequate expression of the praise he is due. Finishing with the mention of how his thoughts come secondarily to the rank of young Henry.

1^st Quatrain: (1-4)

Observing to Elizabeth that Henry still has an effect on her 'to hold her still' with his bearing in line 1. And that there are many that speak in her praise in verse.

2^nd Quatrain: (5-8)

Oxford tries to contrast his own understated sincerity with an attempt at immodesty of his verse in line 5. And tells how he can only reiterate and affirm others more polished praise. Line 7 plays on the homophobia of hymn and him (formerly spelled ‘Himne’)

3rd Quatrain: (9-12)

Again offering how he can only agree in line 9. While in line 10 he begins to tell her that he has one additional thing to add. In line 11 he says it is his thought which he adds. That though in line 12 being that Henry's rank holds precedence.

couplet (13-14),

Thus he ends up in the couplet saying that while others speak ample words of respect, he still speaks this one important (though Elizabeth may disagree) thought and that is his argument and thus his "effect".

Commentary:

In this sonnet Henry becomes the Muse (his other Muse) and he appears as a metaphorical hymn and refined pen praising Henry and to which Oxford presumably can only as in the previous sonnet offer an insubstantial contribution. Interesting are the comments of the power of our poet's Muse has over “her”.

While he reduced to the ‘unletter’d clerk”. This is strangely again words not unexpected as coming from a father but I already expressed also hard to fathom that this type of respect would ever be paid to a rival even by the most generous and modest of individuals. Additionaly the reference of that Oxford’s words might not come through compared to Henry’s great expression is the thought that he holds “his rank before” to which he is expressing the importance of Henry’s place before even his love for her.

Character in line 3 likely plays on the characters of the text also reflecting on the personality and personality reflected and praised by the words.

Parenthetical of line 12 appears to be the sign to again switch addressee (posterity/Elizabeth) as seen in 95. And to suggest Henry's judgment has been rendered and not by the poet who is silenced by his own awe and wonderment.

Vendler offers no insights as to the point of this sonnet except perhaps that it is of course to the young man. But I believe the point of this sonnet is that Oxford while addressing his general silence in praise of Henry offers his own offering. Which he finds more compelling and more eloquent than even his own words, that is what he refers to in line 10, when he adds something more. While the couplet’s speaking in effect¸ is speaking through the physical embodiment of Henry (the effect).