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How carefull was when I tooke my way,
Each trifle under truest barres to thrust,
That to my use it might un-used stay
From hands of falsehood, in sure wards of trust.
But thou, to whom my jewels trifles are,
Most worthy comfort, now my greatest griefe,
Thou best of deerest, and mine onely care,
Art left the prey of every vulgar theefe.
Thee have I not lockt up in any chest,
Save where thou art not, though I feele thou art,
Within the gentle closure of my brest,
From whence at pleasure thou maist come and part;
And even thence thou wilt be stol'n, I feare,
For truth proves theevish for a prize so deare.
Commentary
Commentary
Address to an absent beloved
Address to an absent beloved
Changes made to the original text: line 4, question mark changed to full stop; end of line 10, comma changed to semi-colon.
In the first quatrain, the poet observes that he was very careful to lock away his possessions when he set out on his journey.
In the second quatrain, the poet notes that his beloved, incomparable in worth to these trifles, he leaves unprotected (the prey of every vulgar theefe).
In the third quatrain, the poet points out that the beloved is only locked up in his (the poet's) chest, where he is free to come and go as he pleases.
In the final couplet, the poet confesses that he is still afraid that his beloved will to stolen away, because even honest people prove dishonest (truth proves thievish) for such a prize as he (the beloved).
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