1. They that have power to hurt, and will do none,
2. That do not do the thing they most do show,
3. Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
4. Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow:
5. They rightly do inherit heaven's graces,
6. And husband nature's riches from expense,
7. They are the Lords and owners of their faces,
8. Others but stewards of their excellence:
9. The summer's flower is to the summer sweet,
10. Though to itself it only live and die,
11. But if that flower with base infection meet,
12. The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
13. For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds,
14. Lilies that fester, smell far worse than weeds.
Infection
Dedication: To Elizabeth
A continuation of warning to Elizabeth about the effect of letting Henry’s truth lay idle and unknown to his country. Using the frequent metaphor of flowers and suggesting that the “infection” she has imposed on Henry by virtue of his secrecy does him great harm. That allowing this sweet lily (Henry) to “fester” is analogous to Henry’s own deterioration. Also touching on Elizabeth’s great power for both good and bad but doing neither through her inaction. That she alone has the power of her destiny. Alluding to himself and others surrounding her as mere employed helpers and alluding to himself and Henry in mention of “husband nature’s” riches.
1st Quatrain: (1-4)
The poet vaguely referring to Elizabeth as the one with the power “to hurt” in line 1. Then chiding her for not truly ruling in line 2. Suggesting that she may move others but is herself unmovable. Given this long attempt at lobbying her and her eventual decision, I believe that this seems a fair characterization, certainly for the topic at hand.
2nd Quatrain: (5-8)
Suggesting in line 5 one of the arguments of royalty, that of divine blessing. Happily punning on husband in line 6 and discussing the royal priveledge of payment on all extraction of natural wealth.Oxford of course dabbled briefly in tin mining. Contrasting in line 7 the full determination of those nobility in contrast to Henry whose future at this point might be quite in-determinant. Line 8 a vague reference of Henry essentially keeping the account of royal blood but not actually being royal.
3rd Quatrain: (9-12)
In lines 9 and 10 suggesting that Henry's worth can't be expressed except in the context of true royalty i.e. that his purpose is greater than his mere life. That in line 11 and 12, if this flower is infected than even a weed can surpass its worth
couplet (13-14),
Finally finishing off with an admonishment that Elizabeth's actions will turn this flower into something objectionable.
Commentary:
This sonnet as the previous is a warning of abuse of Henry and which contains lessons regarding the wider responsibilities of stewardship and with the notion that flowers provide a greater wealth than their mere individual selves.
Line 1 "They that have power to hurt, and will do none" is suggestive of Elizabeth as the monarch that finds great turmoil in punishing her immediate relations as was evidenced by the long and arduous process to dispose of the problems and threats caused by her half sister Mary, whom she could not bring herself to execute but relied on others to do it. This line is also akin to Elizabeth as being one of the fairest creatures of sonnet 1 and capable of providing increase or elevation.
The flower of line 12 to whom the thought expressed is that the ‘basest weed outbraves his dignity” because the flower has been infected, a reference to the stain attached to Henry. As well as the tragedy of beauty so undermined to the point that weeds exceed the flower. This theme occurs again and again and yet without this model there is no apparent explanation and no motivation to continue to dwell on such a theme.
The lilies of the line 14 are known as a symbol of royalty. As understood by Shakespeare in King John (III, i) and The Winter's Tale (IV, iv).
Much of this poem is also a reflection on Elizabeth who though she inspires others remains emotionless and cold to what should inspire her.
Orthodox commentary on this poem often observantly points out that no mention is made of the poet or youth in this poem. But what it does contain is the admonition to Elizabeth of lilies festering which is as very definitive warning using the flower metaphor of the repercussions of hiding Henry.
Vendler reflects on the remarkable nature of the “structural experiment” by which Shakespeare “splits” the couplet into two separate thoughts. Though separate however they are intimately related as a warning of what Elizabeth’s actions are doing to herself and to Henry. I believe that the failure to understand this and to understand the purpose of the flower metaphor has resulted in an empty understanding and has bred vacuous commentary about experimentation and meaningless metaphor about the “social order of the vegetative realm”.