Sonnet 142: Love Is My Sin, And Thy Dear Virtue Hate
Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate,
Hate of my sin, grounded on sinful loving:
O! but with mine compare thou thine own state,
And thou shalt find it merits not reproving;
Or, if it do, not from those lips of thine,
That have profaned their scarlet ornaments
And sealed false bonds of love as oft as mine,
Robbed others’ beds’ revenues of their rents.
Be it lawful I love thee, as thou lov’st those
Whom thine eyes woo as mine importune thee:
Root pity in thy heart, that, when it grows,
Thy pity may deserve to pitied be.
If thou dost seek to have what thou dost hide,
By self-example mayst thou be denied!
Line 1:
“Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thy: Your (archaic or poetic form of “your”).
- Dear virtue: Beloved’s moral excellence.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by declaring that his love is a “sin,” while his beloved’s hatred of his love is her “virtue.” This line sets up the central tension of the sonnet: the contrast between the speaker’s love and his beloved’s rejection.
Line 2:
“Hate of my sin, grounded on sinful loving:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Grounded: Based or founded.
- Sinful loving: Immoral or wrongful love.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that his beloved’s hatred of his love is itself based on her own “sinful loving.” This line introduces the idea that both the speaker and his beloved are flawed, creating a moral ambiguity.
Line 3:
“O! but with mine compare thou thine own state,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thine: Your (archaic form).
Explanation:
The speaker urges his beloved to compare her own behavior to his, suggesting that she is no less guilty of wrongdoing. This line challenges her moral superiority and highlights the hypocrisy in her judgment.
Line 4:
“And thou shalt find it merits not reproving;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Merits: Deserves.
- Reproving: Criticism or condemnation.
Explanation:
The speaker argues that if his beloved honestly compares their actions, she will find that his love does not deserve her condemnation. This line reinforces the theme of moral ambiguity and mutual fault.
Line 5:
“Or, if it do, not from those lips of thine,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lips of thine: Your lips (archaic form).
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that even if his love deserves criticism, it should not come from her, given her own flaws. This line further challenges her moral authority.
Line 6:
“That have profaned their scarlet ornaments”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Profaned: Desecrated or misused.
- Scarlet ornaments: Symbols of beauty or purity (possibly lips).
Explanation:
The speaker accuses his beloved of misusing her beauty or purity, suggesting that she has acted immorally. This line adds to the theme of hypocrisy and mutual fault.
Line 7:
“And sealed false bonds of love as oft as mine,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sealed: Confirmed or established.
- False bonds: Insincere promises or commitments.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that his beloved has made insincere promises of love just as he has. This line further emphasizes the moral equivalence between them.
Line 8:
“Robbed others’ beds’ revenues of their rents.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Revenues: Income or benefits.
- Rents: Payments or dues.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses his beloved of stealing the affections of others, suggesting that she has been unfaithful. This line reinforces the theme of mutual wrongdoing.
Line 9:
“Be it lawful I love thee, as thou lov’st those”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lawful: Permissible or justified.
Explanation:
The speaker argues that if his beloved can love others, then it should be permissible for him to love her. This line challenges her double standards and asserts his right to love her.
Line 10:
“Whom thine eyes woo as mine importune thee:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thine eyes woo: Your eyes attract or entice.
- Importune: Beg or plead persistently.
Explanation:
The speaker compares his persistent pleading to his beloved’s flirtatious behavior with others. This line highlights the imbalance in their relationship and his frustration with her actions.
Line 11:
“Root pity in thy heart, that, when it grows,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Root: Establish or plant deeply.
- Pity: Compassion or sympathy.
Explanation:
The speaker asks his beloved to cultivate pity in her heart, suggesting that it may lead to her own redemption. This line reflects his hope for a more compassionate relationship.
Line 12:
“Thy pity may deserve to pitied be.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Deserve to pitied be: Merit compassion in return.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that if his beloved shows pity, she may herself deserve pity in the future. This line underscores the theme of reciprocity and moral growth.
Line 13:
“If thou dost seek to have what thou dost hide,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dost: Do (archaic form).
- Hide: Conceal or withhold.
Explanation:
The speaker warns his beloved that if she seeks love while withholding it from others, she may be denied it herself. This line reflects the theme of moral consequences and fairness.
Line 14:
“By self-example mayst thou be denied!”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mayst: May (archaic form).
- Denied: Refused or rejected.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by suggesting that his beloved’s own behavior may lead to her being denied love. This line serves as a warning and a plea for fairness and compassion.
Overall Context and Themes:
Sonnet 142 explores the themes of love, hypocrisy, and moral ambiguity. The speaker challenges his beloved’s moral superiority, arguing that her rejection of his love is based on her own flawed behavior. The poem delves into the complexities of human relationships, highlighting the tension between desire, judgment, and reciprocity. The speaker’s plea for pity and fairness underscores the universal longing for compassion and understanding in love.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 142
Summary
In Sonnet 142, the speaker acknowledges that his love is sinful, but he criticizes his mistress for judging him, as she is equally guilty of immoral love. He points out her hypocrisy, arguing that she, too, has been unfaithful and has betrayed others in love.
Despite her harsh judgment of his love, he asks for pity, hoping that if she learns to be compassionate, she might one day receive pity in return. The sonnet ends with a warning: if she denies love to others while seeking it for herself, she may one day be denied the very love she desires.
Critical Analysis
This sonnet is bitter and confrontational, directly addressing the Dark Lady’s hypocrisy. While the speaker usually accepts his suffering, here he pushes back, exposing his mistress’s moral contradictions.
The central argument is built on moral relativity—he suggests that if his love is sinful, then so is hers. He also reverses the power dynamic, attempting to hold her accountable for her own actions.
This marks a shift in the Dark Lady sequence—where the speaker previously accepted his suffering, he now challenges his mistress’s authority over him.
Theme Analysis
- Love and Sin
- The sonnet equates love with sin, reinforcing the idea that love, particularly lust, is morally corrupting.
- The speaker recognizes his own guilt, but refuses to be condemned by someone equally guilty.
- Hypocrisy in Judgment
- The mistress condemns the speaker, but he points out that she, too, has been unfaithful.
- This creates an ethical paradox—how can she condemn him for seeking love, when she does the same?
- Moral Reciprocity (The Golden Rule)
- The speaker argues that if she denies love and pity to others, she may one day suffer the same fate.
- This suggests a karmic justice, where those who judge harshly will one day be judged themselves.
- Desire vs. Virtue
- The mistress is both desirable and morally flawed, making her a symbol of temptation and corruption.
- The speaker highlights how love can blur the lines between virtue and vice, making it impossible to separate morality from desire.
Literary Devices
- Paradox & Irony
- “Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate”
- This opening line sets up an ironic contrast—the speaker’s love is sinful, but the mistress’s “virtue” is hatred.
- This suggests that love and virtue are inverted, where hatred is seen as moral, and love as immoral.
- Religious Imagery
- “Profaned their scarlet ornaments” (a reference to lips that have kissed falsely)
- This evokes religious corruption, likening the mistress’s false kisses to false oaths.
- The word “profaned” suggests that she has defiled something sacred—perhaps love itself.
- Legal and Financial Metaphors
- “Robbed others’ beds’ revenues of their rents”
- This suggests that the mistress has stolen from others in love, treating relationships as financial transactions.
- This reinforces the idea that love, in this context, is transactional and exploitative.
- The Law of Reciprocity (Poetic Justice)
- “If thou dost seek to have what thou dost hide, / By self-example mayst thou be denied!”
- This final couplet warns that if she denies love to others, she may one day be denied love herself.
- It suggests poetic justice, where her own behavior will determine her fate.
Conclusion
Sonnet 142 is a sharp critique of moral hypocrisy, where the speaker confronts the Dark Lady’s double standards. Unlike earlier sonnets where he passively suffered, here he fights back, exposing her flaws and contradictions.
This sonnet highlights love’s moral complexity, showing how it can blur the line between virtue and vice. The mistress, once seen as irresistible, is now portrayed as manipulative and unjust.
The ending serves as a warning—if she continues to deny love to others, she may one day be denied the very love she desires. This introduces an element of justice, suggesting that love, though unfair, still follows its own moral logic.
