Sonnet 62
Sinne of self-love possesseth al mine eie,
And all my soule, and al my every part;
And for this sinne there is no remedie,
It is so grounded inward in my heart.
Me thinkes no face so gratious is as mine,
No shape so true, no truth of such account,
And for my selfe mine owne worth do define,
As I all other in all worths surmount.
But when my glasse shewes me my selfe indeed
Beated and chopt with tand antiquitie,
Mine owne selfe love quite contrary I read,
Selfe, so selfe loving were iniquity.
'Tis thee (my selfe) that for my selfe I praise,
Painting my age with beauty of thy daies.
Commentary
Address to his other self
In the first quatrain, the poet confesses the sin of self love. There is no remedy. It is too far ingrained in his heart.
In the second quatrain, the poet itemises his excellencies: face, shape, truth, worth. He is incomparable.
In the third quatrain, the poet asserts that when he looks in the glass at his own 'beated and chopt' face he realises that it would be a real sin (iniquity) to love himself.
In the final couplet, the poet reveals that it is, in fact, his beloved he is praising, his other self.