Sonnet 128: How Oft When Thou, My Music, Music Play’st
How oft when thou, my music, music play’st,
Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds
With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway’st
The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,
Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap,
To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,
Whilst my poor lips which should that harvest reap,
At the wood’s boldness by thee blushing stand!
To be so tickled, they would change their state
And situation with those dancing chips,
O’er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,
Making dead wood more bless’d than living lips.
Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,
Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.
Sonnet Line 1:
“How oft when thou, my music, music play’st,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- How oft: How often.
- Thou: You.
- Music play’st: Play music.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by addressing the beloved, referring to them as “my music,” suggesting that the beloved’s presence or actions are as delightful and harmonious as music. This line introduces the central theme of the sonnet, which is the speaker’s admiration and envy of the beloved’s interaction with a musical instrument. The tone is affectionate, setting the stage for a playful and wistful exploration of the speaker’s feelings.
Sonnet Line 2:
“Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Blessed wood: The keys of a musical instrument, often made of wood.
- Motion sounds: Produces sound when moved.
Explanation:
The speaker describes the musical instrument as “blessed wood,” emphasizing its sacred or cherished nature because it is touched by the beloved. This line highlights the speaker’s reverence for the instrument, which becomes a conduit for the beloved’s artistry. The tone is admiring, underscoring the speaker’s fascination with the beloved’s musical skill.
Sonnet Line 3:
“With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway’st”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thy sweet fingers: Your delicate fingers.
- Sway’st: Move or play gently.
Explanation:
The speaker focuses on the beloved’s fingers, which move gracefully to play the instrument. The word “sweet” conveys the speaker’s admiration for the beloved’s touch, while “gently sway’st” suggests a fluid and elegant motion. This line emphasizes the sensuality of the beloved’s actions, adding to the speaker’s enchantment. The tone is tender, highlighting the speaker’s deep affection.
Sonnet Line 4:
“The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wiry concord: The harmonious strings of the instrument.
- Confounds: Amazes or overwhelms.
Explanation:
The speaker describes the harmonious sounds produced by the instrument’s strings as “wiry concord,” which overwhelms their senses. This line suggests that the music is so beautiful it leaves the speaker in awe. The tone is captivated, emphasizing the speaker’s emotional response to the beloved’s performance.
Sonnet Line 5:
“Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Jacks: The keys or levers of a musical instrument.
- Nimble leap: Move quickly and lightly.
Explanation:
The speaker admits to envying the instrument’s keys, which leap nimbly under the beloved’s touch. This line introduces the theme of envy, as the speaker longs to be in the place of the keys, which enjoy the beloved’s attention. The tone is wistful, highlighting the speaker’s desire for closeness with the beloved.
Sonnet Line 6:
“To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Tender inward: The soft palm of the hand.
Explanation:
The speaker imagines the keys kissing the beloved’s palm, emphasizing the intimacy of the interaction. This line deepens the speaker’s envy, as they long to experience the same closeness. The tone is longing, underscoring the speaker’s desire for physical connection with the beloved.
Sonnet Line 7:
“Whilst my poor lips which should that harvest reap,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Poor lips: The speaker’s own lips, feeling neglected.
- Harvest reap: Receive the reward or benefit.
Explanation:
The speaker laments that their own lips, which should be the ones to enjoy the beloved’s touch, are left unfulfilled. This line emphasizes the speaker’s sense of deprivation and longing. The tone is plaintive, highlighting the speaker’s frustration and yearning.
Sonnet Line 8:
“At the wood’s boldness by thee blushing stand!”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wood’s boldness: The audacity of the instrument’s keys.
- Blushing stand: Stand by, feeling shy or envious.
Explanation:
The speaker describes themselves as “blushing” with envy at the boldness of the keys, which enjoy the beloved’s touch. This line conveys the speaker’s sense of inadequacy and longing, as they wish to take the place of the keys. The tone is playful yet poignant, emphasizing the speaker’s emotional conflict.
Sonnet Line 9:
“To be so tickled, they would change their state”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Tickled: Delighted or stimulated.
- Change their state: Switch places.
Explanation:
The speaker imagines that their lips would gladly change places with the keys to experience the beloved’s touch. This line emphasizes the intensity of the speaker’s desire for intimacy. The tone is whimsical, highlighting the speaker’s playful yet earnest longing.
Sonnet Line 10:
“And situation with those dancing chips,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Situation: Position or place.
- Dancing chips: The keys of the instrument, described as lively and animated.
Explanation:
The speaker reiterates their desire to switch places with the keys, which are described as “dancing chips” due to their lively movement under the beloved’s fingers. This line reinforces the speaker’s envy and longing. The tone is lighthearted, yet it underscores the depth of the speaker’s feelings.
Sonnet Line 11:
“O’er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- O’er whom: Over which.
- Gentle gait: Soft and graceful movement.
Explanation:
The speaker describes the beloved’s fingers moving gracefully over the keys, emphasizing the elegance and tenderness of their touch. This line deepens the speaker’s admiration and envy. The tone is reverent, highlighting the beloved’s artistry and the speaker’s longing.
Sonnet Line 12:
“Making dead wood more bless’d than living lips.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dead wood: The inanimate keys of the instrument.
- Bless’d: Blessed or fortunate.
Explanation:
The speaker laments that the inanimate keys are more fortunate than their own living lips, as they enjoy the beloved’s touch. This line underscores the speaker’s sense of deprivation and longing. The tone is wistful, emphasizing the speaker’s yearning for intimacy.
Sonnet Line 13:
“Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Saucy jacks: The bold and lively keys.
- Happy are in this: Fortunate in this regard.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that the keys are fortunate to receive the beloved’s touch, describing them as “saucy” or bold. This line conveys the speaker’s playful envy and admiration. The tone is lighthearted, yet it underscores the speaker’s deep desire for closeness.
Sonnet Line 14:
“Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Give them thy fingers: Let the keys have your fingers.
- Me thy lips to kiss: Let me have your lips to kiss.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by playfully suggesting that the keys can have the beloved’s fingers, but they desire the beloved’s lips for themselves. This line encapsulates the speaker’s longing for intimacy and their playful envy of the keys. The tone is affectionate and yearning, bringing the sonnet to a heartfelt close.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 128
Summary
In Sonnet 128, Shakespeare expresses jealousy toward the keys of a musical instrument—likely a virginal (a type of harpsichord popular in the Elizabethan era)—which the Dark Lady plays with her delicate fingers. The speaker envies these “jacks” (the small wooden pieces that pluck the strings of the instrument) because they have the privilege of touching her hands, while he, who desires such intimacy, is left longing.
The poem begins with admiration for the music his beloved produces, describing the “blessed wood” and “wiry concord” (the strings) that produce harmonious sounds under her touch. However, this admiration quickly turns into envy, as the speaker wishes he could be in the place of the “jacks” that “nimble leap” to touch her fingers. He sees the wooden keys as bold and audacious for being able to “kiss the tender inward” of her hand, while his own lips—more deserving of such affection—are forced to remain distant.
He imagines that if his lips could replace the keys, they would willingly switch places to experience such an intimate touch. The phrase “dead wood more bless’d than living lips” highlights his frustration that inanimate objects receive her caress while he, a living lover, is deprived. The sonnet ends with a playful yet passionate resolution: if the “saucy jacks” (the instrument keys) are fortunate enough to receive her fingers, then at least he should be granted her lips.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 128 is one of Shakespeare’s most sensuous sonnets, filled with wordplay and double meanings that subtly hint at physical desire. The theme of jealousy is central, but rather than being directed at another person, it is humorously aimed at an inanimate object—the musical instrument. This playful yet frustrated tone conveys the speaker’s deep yearning for physical intimacy with the Dark Lady.
The poem reflects the Renaissance fascination with music as both an artistic and sensual experience. Music was often associated with love and desire, and here, the speaker blends these ideas, turning the act of playing an instrument into an extended metaphor for touch and sensual pleasure.
Shakespeare employs personification extensively, making the “jacks” appear almost human as they “nimble leap” and “kiss” her fingers. This heightens the speaker’s envy, as the lifeless wood appears to have more intimacy with the woman than he does. The idea of inanimate objects being blessed while the speaker is deprived is a motif found in other sonnets, particularly those involving unattainable desire.
The playful eroticism of the poem also reflects Shakespeare’s broader approach to the Dark Lady sequence. Unlike the Fair Youth sonnets, which emphasize idealized love, the poems about the Dark Lady often depict desire as physical, impulsive, and even frustrating. Here, the speaker’s jealousy is lighthearted, but it underscores a deeper longing for closeness that he cannot attain.
The final couplet provides a witty resolution. The speaker concedes that the instrument keys may have the privilege of her fingers, but he insists that he deserves something even better—her lips. This shift from hands to lips subtly elevates his desire from mere touch to a more intimate, romantic connection.
Theme Analysis
- Jealousy and Longing
- The speaker envies the musical instrument because it enjoys the privilege of his beloved’s touch while he remains distant. This frustration mirrors the broader theme of unfulfilled desire in the Dark Lady sonnets.
- Sensuality and Physical Desire
- Unlike the Fair Youth sonnets, which focus on idealized beauty and love, Sonnet 128 is rich with physical imagery, emphasizing the tactile and sensual nature of attraction.
- Personification of the Inanimate
- The speaker treats the “jacks” and the “blessed wood” as rivals for the Dark Lady’s attention, heightening his sense of frustration and emphasizing his perception of music as a deeply intimate act.
- Music as a Metaphor for Love and Passion
- Renaissance literature often linked music with love, and here, playing an instrument becomes a metaphor for physical closeness and intimacy.
- Playful Eroticism
- The poem contains subtle innuendos and double meanings that suggest physical desire, making it one of the more openly flirtatious sonnets in the sequence.
Literary Devices
- Personification
- “Those jacks that nimble leap” → The keys of the instrument are given human-like qualities, as if they are actively kissing the Dark Lady’s hands.
- “Making dead wood more bless’d than living lips” → The inanimate instrument is portrayed as luckier than the speaker.
- Metaphor
- The musical instrument serves as an extended metaphor for physical intimacy, where playing music is equated to sensual touch.
- Wordplay & Double Entendre
- “To kiss the tender inward of thy hand” → While literally referring to the instrument keys touching her hands, it also suggests the speaker’s desire for a more intimate connection.
- “Saucy jacks” → The word “jacks” refers to both the instrument’s keys and potentially flirtatious men, adding a humorous undertone.
- Contrast & Juxtaposition
- “Dead wood more bless’d than living lips” → The irony that an inanimate object receives affection while the speaker, a living person, does not.
- Alliteration
- “With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway’st” → The repetition of soft consonants mimics the gentle, musical quality of the moment.
- “Since saucy jacks so happy are in this” → The repetition of the “s” sound enhances the playful tone.
- Irony
- The speaker is envious of an object that cannot feel or appreciate the Dark Lady’s touch, emphasizing the absurdity of his frustration.
Conclusion
Sonnet 128 is a playful yet deeply sensual exploration of desire, using the act of playing music as an extended metaphor for physical closeness. The speaker’s jealousy of the instrument creates an amusing contrast, making the poem both passionate and humorous. Through personification, wordplay, and irony, Shakespeare transforms an everyday scene—his beloved playing music—into a meditation on longing and physical attraction.
This sonnet is a strong example of the shift in tone from the Fair Youth sonnets to the Dark Lady sequence. Instead of idealized love and admiration from afar, Sonnet 128 presents a speaker who is impatient, jealous, and openly yearning for intimacy. Yet, despite his frustration, the playful wit of the final couplet suggests that the speaker is hopeful—if the instrument gets her hands, he will at least claim her lips.
