Sonnet 145

Those lips that love's own hand did make

Breathed forth the sound that said, "I hate"

To me that languished for her sake;

But when she saw my woeful state,

Straight in her heart did mercy come,

Chiding that tongue that ever sweet

Was used in giving gentle doom,

And taught it thus anew to greet:

"I hate," she altered with an end

That followed it as gentle day

Doth follow night who, like a fiend,

From heaven to hell is flown away.

"I hate," from hate away she threw,

And saved my life, saying, "not you."

Commentary

This sonnet is difficult to reconcile with the others. It is clearly addressed to a woman, but which woman? The use of 'hate away' in line 13 has an obvious association with Hathaway, the poet's wife's maiden name, but there is no clear link to what thatmight signify. It is also noticeable that this poem has only eight syllables per line (the others all have ten). We might conclude, therefore, that it was, perhaps, never intended for this series, but written separately and under different circumstances.

The picture drawn is simple enough: the poet sees the woman in very positive terms: her lips were made by love's own hand, he languishes for her, and, when she sees this, she immediately feels a merciful impulse, chiding her 'ever sweet' tongue, and correcting her statement 'I hate', thus saving the poet's life. But the question remains: why does the poet fear that the woman will hate him? If the woman addressed is indeed Anne Hathaway, then it is perhaps guilt that informs his fears. He has, after all, been unfaithful to his wife, probably many times. Perhaps, on returning home, he fears rejection by his own wife.