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For shame deny that thou bear'st love to any
Who for thy selfe art so unprovident
Graunt if thou wilt, thou are belov'd of many,
But that thou none lov"st is most evident:
For thou art so possest with murdrous hate,
That gainst thy selfe thou stickst not to conspire,
Seeking that beautious roofe to ruinate
Which to repair should be thy chief desire:
O change thy thought, that I may change my minde,
Shall hate be fairer log'd then gentle love?
Be as thy presence is, gracious and kind,
Or to thy selfe at least knd harted prove,
Make thee an other selfe for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine and thee.
Commentary
Commentary
Address to an improvident young man to encourage him to procreate
Address to an improvident young man to encourage him to procreate
Changes to the original text: line 11, comma inserted after 'is'.
In the first quatrain, the poet points out that the young man is acting as though he hates himself, that many love him, but he loves none.
In the second quatrain, the poet likens the young man to a person who seeks to destroy the house in which he lives (roof to ruinate) when his main concern should be to repair it.
In the third quatrain, the poet urges the young man to change his behaviour, be more 'kind harted' to himself.
The final couplet urges the young man to make 'another selfe' that beauty may live. To be noted is the fact that the poet asks the young man to do this 'for love of me'. The expectation that the young aristocrat might do something for love of the poet is new, and indicates a new level of intimacy.
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