1. Was it the proud full sail of his great verse,

2. Bound for the prize of (all too precious) you,

3. That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse,

4. Making their tomb the womb wherein they grew?

5. Was it his spirit, by spirits taught to write,

6. Above a mortal pitch, that struck me dead?

7. No, neither he, nor his compeers by night

8. Giving him aid, my verse astonished.

9. He, nor that affable familiar ghost

10. Which nightly gulls him with intelligence

11. As victors of my silence cannot boast,

12. I was not sick of any fear from thence.

13. But when your countenance fill'd up his line,

14. Then lack'd I matter; that enfeebled mine.

His Line

Dedication: To Elizabeth

Questioning Elizabeth in relation to some kind of verse written her by Henry. Asking which of the many aspects and inspiration of it were the cause of his own supposed lessening as a writer.

1^st Quatrain: (1-4)

Oxford asks Elizabeth about metaphorically of Henry as through poetry he written. Asking her in line 2 if it was that she was overly flattered and telling her that this verse was for all to read. Telling her that Henry's lines caused his own mature thoughts to stay within himself in line 3. And in line 4 cleverly playing on his own thoughts being in tomb in the womb in which they grew as a reminder of Henry as her child.

2^nd Quatrain: (5-8)

Further questioning what it was about his verse which the Oxford claims was so overwhelming and inspired to him and possibly even by him as in line 7.

3rd Quatrain: (9-12)

Oxford commenting on Henry’s continued intellectual growth.

couplet (13-14),

Finishing with a comment on how Henry's verse so praised Elizabeth and that this caused the irrelevance of Oxford's own poetic praise. Such high praise for this supposed rival! Are we to believe Will Shakespeare was really so gentle and gracious and had so little pride?

Commentary:

This sonnet uses the metaphor as Henry as poetry expressing Elizabeth’s virtue which Oxford contrasts to his own feeble verse by comparison. Thus our supposed rival poet appears but the praise of this “rival” seems to have the strange air of a father’s pride. And further I would argue that the man who countless time’s refers to the power of his own verse is not likely to compare himself so unfavorably to any other mere living poet. And I would not characterize this other supposed poet as rival, more as a metaphorical partner. The triangle of the three individuals harks back to 134 where Oxford revealed that Henry pays the price for Oxford’s transgressions.

Line 3's inhearse (a Shakespeare coined word, to put in hearse/coffin) fits with the death metaphor.

Line 6's pitch is a falconry term reflecting the height at which they enter their stoop (dive).

This point in the sonnets I argued previously marks a break from those that came before and I offer that in them Oxford through metaphor will make every argument anyone would make in his predicament, except that he will make them using the most inventive and clever verse that only he was capable of.

The Cliff Notes point out how the rival poet is referred to in the past tense as suggesting that he is no longer a threat. I would argue that the “rival poet” is actually never a threat because he is actually never a “rival”. An in fact this poem contains the obvious reminder to Elizabeth of her relationship to the other poet with the reference to the “womb wherein they grew”. Yet another example of much more apt analogy for addressing a woman versus the supposed young man in which it is thought this section of sonnets was written.

Vendler suggests that the couplet refers to infidelity with the “rival”. I would maintain that in fact there is actually no rival at all. In fact the poet shows no jealousy, resentment, or competition with this supposed other poet. I would maintain that the feelings expressed to this other person are much better understood as paternal pride. But Vendler suggests mysteriously that the poet expresses scorn in speaking of this other writer, who she maintains, “profits” from an affable ghost. As if the poet is implying that the writer is actually a mere note taker. Interesting that Shakespeare’s attitude toward ghost visits is not a topic of scorn. Hamlet who in many ways is modeled on Henry (as a prince whose rights are usurped) is visited by just such a ghost.

Note:

Shakespeare's knowledge of and usage of falconry terminology in the most casual and natural way is both well known and clearly indicative of the aristocratic nature of the author. Examples in Shakespeare are the many uses of "mantle" (a covering with the wings to conceal food).