Shakespeare’s Sonnet 79 is a compelling meditation on poetic inspiration, the nature of praise, and the interplay between the poet and the beloved. With a complex tone that blends humility, admiration, and self-effacing irony, Shakespeare deftly acknowledges his declining poetic prowess while attributing all artistic merit to the inherent virtues of his subject. The sonnet adheres to the traditional Shakespearean structure, using its fourteen lines to explore and resolve the tension between poetic creation and the truth of its source.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 79
Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid,
My verse alone had all thy gentle grace;
But now my gracious numbers are decayed,
And my sick muse doth give another place.
I grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument
Deserves the travail of a worthier pen;
Yet what of thee thy poet doth invent
He robs thee of and pays it thee again.
He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word
From thy behavior; beauty doth he give
And found it in thy cheek. He can afford
No praise to thee but what in thee doth live.
Then thank him not for that which he doth say,
Since what he owes thee thou thyself dost pay.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 79
The sonnet follows the Shakespearean form of three quatrains and a concluding rhyming couplet, with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure allows for a progressive argument, where the poet develops his reflections on his inadequacy and the worthiness of his subject, culminating in the couplet’s incisive conclusion. The meter is predominantly iambic pentameter, giving the poem a rhythmic fluidity that mirrors its meditative quality.
The tone is introspective and self-critical but also reverent. The speaker positions himself as an unworthy vessel for his muse, expressing humility in the face of his subject’s unparalleled beauty and virtue. While there is a hint of regret in acknowledging the “decay” of his poetic talent, the poet remains unwavering in his admiration for the beloved. This duality—the poet’s artistic frailty versus the subject’s perfection—imbues the sonnet with a tone of graceful submission and understated irony.
Analysis of Sonnet 79
Lines 1–4:
Acknowledging the Decay of the Poet’s Muse
“Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid,
My verse alone had all thy gentle grace;
But now my gracious numbers are decayed,
And my sick muse doth give another place.”
The opening quatrain introduces the poet’s lament: his earlier verses, once suffused with the beloved’s grace, have now declined. The word “numbers” refers to poetic compositions, suggesting that his artistry once flourished under the muse’s inspiration. However, this artistic vitality has waned, and the “sick muse” has yielded its role to another poet. The metaphor of illness (“sick muse”) not only conveys the poet’s self-perceived inadequacy but also evokes a sense of personal and creative loss.
The tone is simultaneously sorrowful and resigned, with the poet accepting that his work no longer embodies the same vigor. By juxtaposing his earlier success with his current decline, Shakespeare sets up the tension between past artistic vitality and present inadequacy.
Lines 5–8:
Celebrating the Worthiness of the Subject
“I grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument
Deserves the travail of a worthier pen;
Yet what of thee thy poet doth invent
He robs thee of and pays it thee again.”
In this quatrain, the poet shifts focus to the beloved, whom he praises as deserving of a “worthier pen.” This phrase acknowledges that another poet might better capture the beloved’s virtues, suggesting both humility and generosity. Yet, Shakespeare introduces a paradox: even the most inventive poet cannot create anything new about the beloved. Whatever virtues the poet attributes to the subject, he is merely borrowing and returning what already exists within the beloved.
The metaphor of theft (“robs thee of and pays it thee again”) underscores the poet’s argument: all creative praise originates in the beloved’s innate qualities, rendering the poet’s efforts redundant. This self-deprecating logic elevates the beloved’s virtues above the poet’s craft, reinforcing their unparalleled nature.
Lines 9–12:
The Borrowed Virtues of the Beloved
“He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word
From thy behavior; beauty doth he give
And found it in thy cheek. He can afford
No praise to thee but what in thee doth live.”
Here, the poet elaborates on the idea of poetic borrowing. Any virtue or beauty attributed to the beloved by other poets (or the speaker himself) is directly derived from the beloved’s actual qualities. The poet metaphorically accuses these writers of plagiarism, noting that their words lack originality because they simply echo what is already apparent in the beloved.
The imagery of theft and lending is carried forward, emphasizing the inherent self-sufficiency of the beloved. The phrase “what in thee doth live” highlights the authenticity of the beloved’s virtues, suggesting that their worth transcends artistic interpretation. The tone here is both accusatory and celebratory, subtly critiquing other poets while marveling at the beloved’s unmatched qualities.
Lines 13–14:
The Concluding Couplet
“Then thank him not for that which he doth say,
Since what he owes thee thou thyself dost pay.”
The couplet resolves the argument with striking clarity. The poet advises the beloved not to thank poets for their praise, as they merely recycle what the beloved inherently possesses. The phrase “what he owes thee thou thyself dost pay” captures the essence of the sonnet: the beloved is both the origin and end of all praise, rendering external acknowledgment unnecessary.
This conclusion reflects Shakespeare’s mastery of the sonnet form, where the final couplet crystallizes the preceding ideas. The tone is definitive, encapsulating the paradoxical relationship between art and truth.
Conclusion
Sonnet 79 exemplifies Shakespeare’s ability to explore complex themes within a tightly controlled structure. Through its introspective tone and intricate metaphors of borrowing and theft, the poem examines the limitations of poetic invention when faced with transcendent beauty. The poet’s humility contrasts with the beloved’s magnificence, creating a dynamic interplay that reinforces the poem’s central argument: the greatest art is merely an echo of the subject’s inherent virtues. In acknowledging his own inadequacy, Shakespeare elevates the beloved to an almost divine status, highlighting the enduring power of admiration and the interplay between inspiration and reality.
