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As an unperfect actor on the stage,
Who with his feare is put besides his part,
Or some fierce thing repleat with too much rage,
Whose strengths abondance weakens his owne heart;
So I for feare of trust, forget to say,
The perfect ceremony of loves right,
And mine owne loves strength seeme to decay,
Ore-charg'd with burthen of mine owne loves might:
O let my books be then the eloquence,
And dumb presagers of my speaking brest,
Who pleade of love, and look for recompence,
More then that tonge that more hath more exprest.
O learne to read what silent love has writ,
To heare with eies belongs to loves fine wit.
Commentary
Commentary
Address to a young man
Address to a young man
Changes made to the original text: line 14 'wit' changed to 'with', 'wiht' changed to 'wit'.
In the first quatrain, the poet likens himself to an actor with stage fright appearing on the stage, or a fierce beast enraged to such an extent that his rage weakens him.
In the second quatrain, the poet declares that it is the power of his love that makes him tongue tied (for feare of trust forget to say).
In the third quatrain, the poet asks for his poems (books) to speak for him, more than his tongue which has previously said more.
In the final couplet, the poet exhorts the young man to read his verbally unexpressed love in the lines of his poetry, and points out that this is a skill in deciphering which is given to those in love.
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