Sonnet 51: Thus Can My Love Excuse The Slow Offence
Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need.
O! what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,
In winged speed no motion shall I know,
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace.
Therefore desire, (of perfect’st love being made)
Shall neigh, no dull flesh, in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade-
Since from thee going, he went wilful-slow,
Towards thee I’ll run, and give him leave to go.
Line 1: Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Thus: In this way.
- Excuse: Justify or forgive.
- Slow offence: The fault of being slow.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker begins by stating that his love can “excuse the slow offence” (forgive the fault of being slow) of the animal carrying him. This suggests that the speaker’s love for the beloved allows him to overlook the slowness of his journey away from the beloved.
Context:
This sonnet is part of Shakespeare’s sequence addressed to the “Fair Youth.” The speaker continues the theme of separation introduced in Sonnet 50, but here he focuses on the contrast between the slowness of his journey away from the beloved and the swiftness of his return. The line sets up the central theme of the sonnet: the speaker’s willingness to forgive the slowness of his journey because of his love for the beloved.
Line 2: Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Dull bearer: The slow animal carrying the speaker.
- Thee: You (the beloved).
- Speed: Move quickly or hurry.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that the “dull bearer” (the slow animal) is at fault when he is moving away from the beloved (“from thee I speed”). This suggests that the speaker is impatient to be with the beloved and finds the slowness of the journey frustrating.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s impatience and his longing to be with the beloved. It reflects the idea that the physical journey is a metaphor for the emotional pain of separation.
Line 3: From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Thou art: You are.
- Haste me thence: Hurry away from there.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker questions why he should hurry away from the beloved (“from where thou art”). This suggests that he sees no reason to leave the beloved quickly, as being with the beloved is where he wants to be.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s reluctance to leave the beloved and his desire to stay close. It reflects the theme of the emotional pain of separation.
Line 4: Till I return, of posting is no need.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Posting: Traveling quickly or hastening.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that there is no need to hurry (“of posting is no need”) until he returns to the beloved. This suggests that the speaker is willing to take his time leaving the beloved but is eager to return quickly.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s impatience to return to the beloved. It reflects the idea that the journey away from the beloved is slow and reluctant, while the return will be swift and eager.
Line 5: O! what excuse will my poor beast then find,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Poor beast: The animal carrying the speaker.
- Excuse: Justification or reason.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker wonders what excuse his “poor beast” (the animal) will have when the speaker is eager to return to the beloved. This suggests that the animal’s slowness will be even more frustrating when the speaker is in a hurry to reunite with the beloved.
Context:
This line introduces the theme of the contrast between the slowness of the journey away from the beloved and the swiftness of the return. It reflects the speaker’s impatience and his longing to be with the beloved.
Line 6: When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Swift extremity: The utmost speed.
- Seem but slow: Appear slow.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker suggests that even the fastest speed (“swift extremity”) will seem slow when he is eager to return to the beloved. This reflects the intensity of the speaker’s longing and his impatience to be reunited with the beloved.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s impatience and his longing to be with the beloved. It reflects the idea that no speed is fast enough when the speaker is eager to return.
Line 7: Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Spur: Urge the animal to move faster.
- Mounted on the wind: Riding as fast as the wind.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker imagines that even if he were riding as fast as the wind (“mounted on the wind”), he would still spur the animal to go faster. This suggests that the speaker’s desire to return to the beloved is so intense that no speed is fast enough.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s impatience and his longing to be with the beloved. It reflects the idea that the speaker’s desire to return is overwhelming.
Line 8: In winged speed no motion shall I know,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Winged speed: Speed as fast as wings (extremely fast).
- No motion shall I know: Will feel no movement.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker suggests that even at “winged speed” (extremely fast), he will feel no movement because his desire to return to the beloved is so great. This reflects the intensity of the speaker’s longing and his impatience to be reunited with the beloved.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s impatience and his longing to be with the beloved. It reflects the idea that no speed is fast enough when the speaker is eager to return.
Line 9: Then can no horse with my desire keep pace.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Keep pace: Match the speed.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that no horse can match the speed of his desire to return to the beloved. This suggests that the speaker’s emotional longing is so intense that it surpasses any physical speed.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s impatience and his longing to be with the beloved. It reflects the idea that the speaker’s desire to return is overwhelming and cannot be matched by physical means.
Line 10: Therefore desire, (of perfect’st love being made)
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Desire: Longing or yearning.
- Perfect’st love: The most perfect love.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes his desire as being made of “perfect’st love,” meaning it is the purest and most intense form of love. This suggests that the speaker’s longing to return to the beloved is rooted in his deep and perfect love.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s intense longing and his deep love for the beloved. It reflects the idea that the speaker’s desire to return is driven by the strength of his love.
Line 11: Shall neigh, no dull flesh, in his fiery race;
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Neigh: The sound a horse makes (symbolizing speed or energy).
- Dull flesh: Slow or lethargic body.
- Fiery race: A passionate or intense pursuit.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker suggests that his desire, like a horse, will “neigh” (move with energy and speed) and not be hindered by “dull flesh” (physical limitations). This reflects the intensity of the speaker’s longing and his belief that his desire will overcome any obstacles.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s impatience and his longing to be with the beloved. It reflects the idea that the speaker’s desire to return is overwhelming and cannot be hindered by physical limitations.
Line 12: But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade-
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Love, for love: Love for the sake of love.
- Excuse: Forgive or justify.
- Jade: A worn-out or slow horse.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker states that his love will “excuse my jade” (forgive the slow horse) because it is motivated by love. This suggests that the speaker’s love for the beloved allows him to overlook the slowness of the journey.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s willingness to forgive the slowness of the journey because of his love for the beloved. It reflects the idea that love transcends physical limitations.
Line 13: Since from thee going, he went wilful-slow,
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Thee: You (the beloved).
- Wilful-slow: Deliberately slow.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker explains that the horse was “wilful-slow” (deliberately slow) when moving away from the beloved. This suggests that the horse, like the speaker, was reluctant to leave the beloved.
Context:
This line reinforces the theme of the speaker’s reluctance to leave the beloved and his willingness to forgive the slowness of the journey. It reflects the idea that the physical journey is a metaphor for the emotional pain of separation.
Line 14: Towards thee I’ll run, and give him leave to go.
Difficult Words and Meanings:
- Towards thee: Toward you (the beloved).
- Give him leave: Allow him.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that he will run toward the beloved and allow the horse to go at its own pace. This suggests that the speaker’s desire to return to the beloved is so intense that he will not rely on the horse but will run himself.
Context:
This line encapsulates the central theme of the sonnet: the speaker’s intense longing to return to the beloved and his willingness to forgive the slowness of the journey. It reflects the idea that love transcends physical limitations and that the speaker’s desire to be with the beloved is overwhelming.
Summary of the Sonnet:
Sonnet 51 explores the theme of the contrast between the slowness of the journey away from the beloved and the swiftness of the return. The speaker’s love allows him to forgive the slowness of the animal carrying him, but he is impatient to return to the beloved. The speaker’s desire to return is so intense that no speed is fast enough, and he imagines running toward the beloved himself. The sonnet reflects the idea that love transcends physical limitations and that the speaker’s longing to be with the beloved is overwhelming. The final lines underscore the speaker’s willingness to forgive the slowness of the journey and his eagerness to reunite with the beloved, capturing the tension between physical movement and emotional intensity.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 50
Summary:
Sonnet 50 is a lament on separation, depicting the speaker’s emotional and physical burden as he journeys away from his beloved. The imagery of a weary traveler and a suffering horse reflects his melancholy and reluctance to part.
- Quatrain 1: The journey is burdensome and painful because each step increases the distance from the beloved.
- Quatrain 2: Even the horse senses the sorrow, moving slowly and unwillingly as if it, too, resents the departure.
- Quatrain 3: Attempts to spur the horse forward only deepen the speaker’s suffering, as its groans remind him of his own inner grief.
- Final Couplet: The destination holds no joy, as happiness lies behind with the beloved.
Critical Analysis:
Sonnet 50 is one of Shakespeare’s most visceral depictions of sorrow in the sonnet sequence. Unlike other sonnets that lament separation in a philosophical or metaphorical sense, this one physically embodies sorrow through the struggle of both the speaker and his horse.
The heavy, plodding movement of the journey mirrors the emotional weight of parting, reinforcing the idea that distance brings not only physical exhaustion but also psychological torment. The horse, usually a symbol of speed and power, becomes an extension of the speaker’s grief, moving sluggishly as if it, too, understands the pain of separation.
Theme Analysis:
- The Burden of Separation:
- The speaker’s journey is not just physical but deeply emotional. Each step increases his sorrow because he is moving away from joy and toward grief.
- The final couplet explicitly states:
- “My grief lies onward, and my joy behind.”
- Sympathy Between Man and Nature:
- The horse reflects the speaker’s emotions, moving slowly and reluctantly as if it, too, mourns the distance.
- This personification of the horse creates a sense of shared suffering, making the scene more poignant.
- The Ineffectiveness of Force Against Emotion:
- The speaker spurs the horse to make it go faster, but this only results in a groan of pain, which hurts him more than it does the horse.
- This suggests that no amount of force or urgency can erase the pain of separation—grief must be endured.
- The Reversal of the Journey’s Purpose:
- Normally, a journey has a destination of hope or fulfillment. Here, the opposite is true:
- The closer the speaker gets to his destination, the farther he moves from happiness.
Literary Devices and Techniques:
- Heavy, Plodding Rhythm:
- Shakespeare uses deliberate pacing to mimic the slow, reluctant movement of the journey.
- Example:
- “Plods dully on, to bear that weight in me.”
- The phrase “plods dully” slows the line down, mirroring the sluggish movement of the horse.
- Personification of the Horse:
- The horse is not just an animal but a reflection of the speaker’s sorrow.
- Example:
- “As if by some instinct the wretch did know / His rider lov’d not speed being made from thee.”
- The horse understands the pain of separation and does not want to move quickly.
- Use of Sound to Convey Emotion:
- “The bloody spur cannot provoke him on.”
- The harsh “b” and “p” sounds in “bloody” and “provoke” create a sense of frustration and futility.
- Contrast Between Action and Emotion:
- The spur (a tool of control) is meant to force movement, but it only results in pain and sorrow.
- This symbolizes the speaker’s helplessness—he cannot escape grief no matter how much he tries to push forward.
Comparison to Other Sonnets:
- Sonnet 27 (“Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed”)
- Both sonnets deal with physical and emotional exhaustion due to separation from the beloved.
- In Sonnet 27, the speaker cannot rest because of thoughts of love, whereas in Sonnet 50, even movement itself becomes burdensome.
- Sonnet 44 (“If the dull substance of my flesh were thought”)
- Sonnet 44 expresses a wish to overcome distance through thought, whereas Sonnet 50 emphasizes the slow, painful nature of physical separation.
- Sonnet 51 (“Thus can my love excuse the slow offence”)
- Sonnet 51 follows directly after 50, and serves as its contrast—it presents the hope that the return journey will be swift and joyful, whereas Sonnet 50 dwells on the pain of departure.
Conclusion:
Sonnet 50 is a powerful meditation on the weight of separation, using imagery of a weary traveler and his suffering horse to emphasize the speaker’s reluctance and sorrow. The slow, heavy movement of both man and beast reflects the burden of distance, while the horse’s groan of pain serves as a painful reminder of the speaker’s own grief.
The final couplet encapsulates the heartache perfectly:
- “My grief lies onward, and my joy behind.”
Here, Shakespeare delivers a universal truth about love and loss—when separated from what we cherish, no future destination can truly bring comfort, because our happiness remains with the one we left behind.
