Sonnet 98
From you have I beene absent in the spring,
When proud pide Aprill (drest in all his trim)
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing:
That heavie Saturne laught and leapt with him.
Yet nor the laies of birds, nor the sweet smell
Of different flowers in odor and in hew,
Could make me any summers story tell:
Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew:
Nor did I wonder at the lillies white,
Nor praise the deepe vermillion in the Rose,
They weare but sweet, but figures of delight:
Drawne after you, you patterne of all those.
Yet seem'd it Winter still, and you away,
As with your shaddow I with these did play.
Commentary
Address to his beloved
Changes to the original text:
In the first quatrain, the poet sets out the delights of the month of April: variable (proud pide) and young, and remarks that even 'heavie Saturne' has been persuaded to leap and dance. Saturn was associated with lead, and slowness.
In the second quatrain, the poet avows that neither the birds singing (laies of birds), nor the sweet smell and colours of flowers could inspire him to sing summer's song, or pluck flowers from where they grew (their proud lap).
In the third quatrain, the poet observes that neither the white of the lily nor the vermilion of the rose inspired him as these flowers were simply copies of the beloved (drawn after you) who is the original (patterne to all these).
In the final couplet, the poet observes that with the beloved not present (and you away) it still seemed winter. He consoles himself with playing with what flowers there were as representing the shadows of his beloved.