Sonnet 35: No More Be Grieved At That Which Thou Hast Done
No more be grieved at that which thou hast done:
Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud:
Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,
And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.
All men make faults, and even I in this,
Authorizing thy trespass with compare,
Myself corrupting, salving thy amiss,
Excusing thy sins more than thy sins are;
For to thy sensual fault I bring in sense,
Thy adverse party is thy advocate,
And ‘gainst myself a lawful plea commence:
Such civil war is in my love and hate,
That I an accessary needs must be,
To that sweet thief which sourly robs from me.
Line 1:
“No more be grieved at that which thou hast done:”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Grieved – Deeply saddened, distressed.
- Thou hast done – What you have committed (a past action, likely a betrayal).
Explanation & Context:
The poet begins by telling the beloved not to feel guilty or sorrowful for their misdeed. This suggests that some wrong has been committed (possibly unfaithfulness), but the speaker does not want the beloved to dwell on it. Instead of condemnation, the tone is somewhat forgiving, though the hurt is still present.
Line 2:
“Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud:”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Thorns – Sharp, painful parts of a rose, a metaphor for flaws in beauty.
- Silver fountains – Elegant, beautiful streams of water.
- Mud – Dirt or impurity.
Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare uses natural imagery to illustrate that everything beautiful has flaws. Just as roses have thorns and clear fountains can have mud, people—no matter how pure or beautiful—are imperfect and capable of wrongdoing. This metaphor suggests that the beloved’s fault is part of human nature.
Line 3:
“Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Eclipses – Occurrences when the sun or moon is temporarily obscured.
- Stain – To mark, tarnish, or obscure.
Explanation & Context:
The poet continues his argument that imperfections exist everywhere. Even celestial bodies like the sun and moon are occasionally dimmed by clouds or eclipses. This reinforces the idea that the beloved’s wrongdoing should not be seen as an unnatural or irredeemable act—it is simply a part of life.
Line 4:
“And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Loathsome – Disgusting, repulsive.
- Canker – A disease that destroys flowers, often symbolizing moral decay.
- Sweetest bud – The most beautiful and promising flower.
Explanation & Context:
The metaphor deepens: even the most perfect and innocent flower can hide decay within. This line implies that even the most beautiful and beloved people (like the addressee) can carry moral flaws or hidden corruption. It suggests that wrongdoing is inevitable, even in those we admire most.
Line 5:
“All men make faults, and even I in this,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Faults – Mistakes, sins, errors.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker now broadens the argument, stating that everyone is guilty of making mistakes—including himself. This line signals that the poet is not only forgiving the beloved but also acknowledging his own moral weakness in how he is handling the situation.
Line 6:
“Authorizing thy trespass with compare,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Authorizing – Giving approval or justification.
- Trespass – Wrongdoing, sin, moral transgression.
- Compare – Making comparisons to justify something.
Explanation & Context:
Here, the speaker admits that by making all these comparisons (roses, moons, cankers), he is actually excusing the beloved’s wrongdoing rather than condemning it. He is justifying their sin by arguing that faults are natural, which suggests an internal struggle between reason and emotion.
Line 7:
“Myself corrupting, salving thy amiss,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Corrupting – Making oneself morally compromised.
- Salving – Healing, soothing.
- Amiss – Wrongdoings, errors.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker realizes that by trying to excuse the beloved’s faults, he is corrupting himself. He is essentially lowering his moral standards in order to comfort the beloved, trying to “heal” or excuse their sins rather than holding them accountable.
Line 8:
“Excusing thy sins more than thy sins are;”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Excusing – Justifying or forgiving.
Explanation & Context:
The poet confesses that he is defending the beloved’s sins even more than necessary. He is giving them more leniency than they might deserve, showing his deep emotional attachment and his struggle between reason and love.
Line 9:
“For to thy sensual fault I bring in sense,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Sensual fault – A wrongdoing related to physical desires (possibly infidelity).
- Sense – Reason, justification.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker acknowledges that the beloved’s transgression is likely a physical or sexual one (sensual fault), but instead of condemning it, he tries to rationalize it with “sense.” This suggests a conflict between his logical understanding of morality and his emotional need to forgive.
Line 10:
“Thy adverse party is thy advocate,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Adverse party – The opposition, the person who should accuse (the speaker himself).
- Advocate – A defender or supporter.
Explanation & Context:
The poet admits that he, who should be condemning the beloved for their betrayal, has instead become their defender. This reveals the depth of his internal struggle—he is torn between his love for the beloved and his knowledge that they have wronged him.
Line 11:
“And ‘gainst myself a lawful plea commence:”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- ‘Gainst – Against.
- Lawful plea – A justified legal argument.
- Commence – Begin.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker feels as though he is arguing against himself in a courtroom, making a legal defense for the beloved rather than prosecuting them. This line reinforces the idea that love is making him irrational—he should be standing up for himself, but instead, he is defending the one who hurt him.
Line 12:
“Such civil war is in my love and hate,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Civil war – A conflict within oneself (metaphorically).
- Love and hate – Opposing emotions battling within the speaker.
Explanation & Context:
The poet expresses that he is in turmoil, torn between his love and his resentment. His emotions are at war—he cannot fully condemn the beloved, nor can he completely forgive them. This line powerfully captures the speaker’s internal struggle.
Line 13:
“That I an accessary needs must be,”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Accessary – Accomplice or enabler of a crime.
- Needs must be – Must necessarily become.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker acknowledges that, due to his love, he has become an accomplice to the beloved’s wrongdoing. Instead of condemning the sin, he has justified and excused it, making himself complicit in their moral failing.
Line 14:
“To that sweet thief which sourly robs from me.”
Difficult Words & Meanings:
- Sweet thief – A paradoxical term for the beloved (both lovable and deceitful).
- Sourly robs – Steals in a painful or bitter way.
Explanation & Context:
The beloved is described as a “sweet thief,” someone who has stolen from the speaker (perhaps love, trust, or fidelity) but remains endearing despite it. This final line encapsulates the poet’s struggle—his love remains even though he has been deeply wronged.
Final Thoughts on the Sonnet:
Sonnet 35 explores themes of love, betrayal, and self-conflict. The poet, despite being wronged, cannot bring himself to fully condemn the beloved. Instead, he justifies their faults, rationalizes their sins, and even takes part of the blame himself. This creates a deeply emotional and psychological tension, portraying love as something that can blind even the most rational person.
Summary:
In Sonnet 35, the speaker tells the beloved not to grieve over their wrongdoing, suggesting that flaws are natural and inevitable. The speaker uses a series of comparisons—roses have thorns, pure fountains contain mud, celestial bodies are stained by eclipses, and even the most beautiful flowers can be infected—to emphasize that imperfection is a universal truth.
However, the speaker admits to becoming morally compromised by justifying the beloved’s actions. By excusing their sins, the speaker essentially enables them, turning from an adversary into a defender. This inner conflict is described as a “civil war” between love and hate. The final couplet reveals the speaker’s reluctant complicity: they cannot help but be an “accessary” (accomplice) to the beloved’s betrayal, even though it wounds them.
Critical Analysis:
This sonnet delves into themes of moral conflict, forgiveness, and the power of love to override reason. Unlike Sonnet 34, where the speaker struggles with whether to accept an apology, here they have already begun justifying the beloved’s transgressions. The speaker acknowledges their own weakness: love has made them blind to wrongdoing, forcing them into self-deception.
The paradox of becoming an “advocate” for one’s betrayer highlights the irrationality of love. The phrase “civil war” suggests internal turmoil, where the speaker’s sense of justice battles against their affection. The closing image of the beloved as a “sweet thief” reinforces the idea that love can make betrayal feel both painful and irresistible.
Theme Analysis:
- The Universality of Imperfection: The speaker normalizes human flaws through natural imagery (thorns, mud, eclipses), suggesting that wrongdoing is inevitable.
- Moral Corruption Through Love: The speaker admits to being corrupted by their love, as they justify and even defend the beloved’s sins.
- Internal Conflict: The phrase “civil war” captures the intense struggle between the speaker’s love and their rational understanding of betrayal.
- Love as Theft: The closing image of the beloved as a “sweet thief” suggests that love can feel both nourishing and destructive, stealing the speaker’s peace while still being desirable.
Literary Devices:
- Metaphor: The beloved’s flaws are compared to natural imperfections (roses with thorns, muddy fountains, eclipses, diseased buds), reinforcing the idea that no one is perfect.
- Paradox: The speaker becomes both an accuser and a defender of the beloved’s wrongdoing, emphasizing their internal conflict.
- Personification: Love is described as engaging in a “civil war,” giving it human-like qualities of internal division and struggle.
- Alliteration: “Sweet thief” and “sensual fault” enhance the rhythm and emphasize key concepts.
- Legal Imagery: Phrases like “advocate,” “lawful plea,” and “accessary” suggest that the speaker sees their love as a courtroom drama where they argue against their own interests.
Conclusion:
Sonnet 35 presents a deeply introspective take on love’s ability to blind judgment. The speaker recognizes the beloved’s faults yet cannot help but defend them, leading to inner turmoil. Shakespeare masterfully employs natural and legal imagery to illustrate the conflict, making this sonnet a powerful exploration of love’s irrationality.
