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SONNET 85My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still,While comments of your praise, richly compil'd, [Rehearse thy] character with golden quill, And precious phrase by all the Muses fil'd. I think good thoughts while others write good words, And, like unletter'd clerk, still cry 'Amen' To every hymn that able spirit affords In polish'd form of well-refined pen. Hearing you praised, I say "'Tis so, 'tis true," And to the most of praise add something more; But that is in my thought, whose love to you, Though words come hindmost, holds his rank before. Then others for the breath of words respect, Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect. NOTES LXXXV. A variation on the same general theme as before. Shakespeare is silent, while the rival-poet eulogises Mr. W. H. with great wealth of diction and metaphor. By his silence, Shakespeare merely assents to the truth and justness of the praise. In thought, however, he would add thereto, deeming it inadequate. And for his "dumb thoughts" he asks the consideration of his friend. 1. My tongue-tied Muse. The poet might be regarded as "tongue-tied," because his thoughts transcend the power of words (cf. lines 11-14). In manners. With decorous respect. Notice, however, the different explanation of the silence given in the next Sonnet (lines 3, 13, 14). 3. [Rehearse thy] character. Q. has "Reserue their character," which is unintelligible. Probably "their," as elsewhere, represents "thy." "Rehearse," suggested by an anonymous critic, is not an improbable emendation. With the spelling "reherse," it comes near to "reserve." "Character" must be taken, as in some other places, to denote "face," "appearance." Cf. Twelfth Night, Act i. so. 2, lines 50, 51: "I will believe thou hast a mind that suitsa very good example. See also Coriolanus, Act ii. sc. i, lines 70, 71, "What harm can your bisson conspectuities glean out of this character?" 4. Fil'd. Polished and elaborated. Cf. line 8. 6. Unlettered clerk, &c. Fully admitting at once what is said. 7. That able spirit. That great poet, though there is possibly an allusion to Chapman's special claim to inspiration. 14. Speaking in effect. Speaking in thought and purpose. Cf. xxiii and notes. How to cite this article:______ Even More...  Shakespeare on Jealousy Shakespeare on Lawyers Shakespeare on Marriage Blank Verse and Diction in Shakespeare's Hamlet Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Shakespeare on the Seasons Shakespeare on Sleep
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Introduction to
Shakespeare's Sonnets Shakespearean Sonnet
Style How to Analyze a Shakespearean Sonnet The Rules of Shakespearean Sonnets
Shakespeare's Sonnets: Q & A Are Shakespeare's Sonnets Autobiographical? Petrarch's Influence on Shakespeare Themes in Shakespeare's Sonnets Shakespeare and the Earl of Southampton The Order of the Sonnets The Date of the Sonnets Who was Mr. W. H.? Are all the Sonnets addressed to two Persons? Who was The Rival Poet? _____
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