Sonnet 79: Whilst I Alone Did Call Upon Thy Aid
Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid,
My verse alone had all thy gentle grace;
But now my gracious numbers are decay’d,
And my sick Muse doth give an other 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 behaviour; 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.
Line 1:
“Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Whilst: While.
- Call upon thy aid: Seek your help or inspiration.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by reflecting on a time when he was the only one who sought the beloved’s inspiration for his poetry. This suggests a sense of exclusivity and intimacy in their relationship.
Context:
This line sets up a contrast between the past, when the speaker was the sole beneficiary of the beloved’s influence, and the present, where others have also begun to draw inspiration from the beloved.
Line 2:
“My verse alone had all thy gentle grace;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Gentle grace: Kind and elegant beauty.
Explanation:
The speaker recalls that his poetry was once the sole recipient of the beloved’s grace and beauty. This emphasizes the special connection they once shared.
Context:
This line reinforces the idea that the beloved’s inspiration was uniquely the speaker’s, adding a sense of nostalgia and loss to the sonnet.
Line 3:
“But now my gracious numbers are decay’d,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Gracious numbers: Elegant or beautiful verses.
- Decay’d: Declined or deteriorated.
Explanation:
The speaker laments that his poetry has lost its former beauty and elegance. This decline is linked to the beloved’s attention being shared with others.
Context:
This line introduces the theme of competition and jealousy, as the speaker feels his work has suffered due to the beloved’s influence being spread more widely.
Line 4:
“And my sick Muse doth give an other place.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Sick Muse: Weakened or diminished inspiration.
- Give an other place: Yield to others.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that his Muse, once strong and vibrant, has now grown weak and has been overshadowed by others who also draw inspiration from the beloved.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s sense of displacement and loss, as he feels his creative spark has been diminished by the beloved’s broader influence.
Line 5:
“I grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument”
Difficult words meaning:
- Grant: Acknowledge or admit.
- Argument: Subject or theme.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that the beloved’s beauty and grace are worthy subjects for poetry, deserving of the attention they now receive.
Context:
This line shows the speaker’s generosity and admiration for the beloved, even as he grapples with feelings of jealousy and loss.
Line 6:
“Deserves the travail of a worthier pen;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Travail: Effort or labor.
- Worthier pen: More skilled or talented poet.
Explanation:
The speaker admits that the beloved’s beauty merits the attention of more talented poets, suggesting a sense of humility and self-doubt.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s internal conflict, as he struggles to reconcile his admiration for the beloved with his own feelings of inadequacy.
Line 7:
“Yet what of thee thy poet doth invent”
Difficult words meaning:
- Invent: Create or imagine.
Explanation:
The speaker notes that whatever a poet creates about the beloved is ultimately derived from the beloved’s own qualities.
Context:
This line introduces the idea that the beloved is the true source of their own praise, and poets merely reflect what already exists in them.
Line 8:
“He robs thee of, and pays it thee again.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Rob: Take away.
- Pays it thee again: Returns it to you.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that poets take inspiration from the beloved’s qualities and then return it to them in the form of praise. This creates a cycle of admiration and recognition.
Context:
This line emphasizes the idea that the beloved’s beauty and grace are self-sustaining, as they inspire the very praise that celebrates them.
Line 9:
“He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word”
Difficult words meaning:
- Lends: Gives or attributes.
- Stole: Took or borrowed.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that poets attribute virtues to the beloved, but these virtues are actually derived from the beloved’s own behavior and qualities.
Context:
This line reinforces the idea that the beloved is the true source of their own praise, and poets merely reflect what already exists in them.
Line 10:
“From thy behaviour; beauty doth he give,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Behaviour: Conduct or demeanor.
Explanation:
The speaker continues to argue that poets attribute beauty to the beloved, but this beauty is already inherent in the beloved’s appearance and actions.
Context:
This line further emphasizes the beloved’s self-sufficiency, as their qualities inspire the very praise that celebrates them.
Line 11:
“And found it in thy cheek: he can afford”
Difficult words meaning:
- Found it in thy cheek: Observed it in your appearance.
- Afford: Provide or offer.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that poets find beauty in the beloved’s physical appearance, particularly their cheeks, and then celebrate it in their verses.
Context:
This line highlights the beloved’s physical beauty as a source of inspiration for poets, including the speaker himself.
Line 12:
“No praise to thee, but what in thee doth live.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Doth live: Exists or resides.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that poets can only praise the beloved for qualities that already exist within them. The beloved’s beauty and grace are self-evident and self-sustaining.
Context:
This line reinforces the idea that the beloved is the true source of their own praise, and poets merely reflect what already exists in them.
Line 13:
“Then thank him not for that which he doth say,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Thank him not: Do not thank the poet.
Explanation:
The speaker advises the beloved not to thank poets for their praise, as it is ultimately derived from the beloved’s own qualities.
Context:
This line underscores the idea that the beloved’s beauty and grace are self-sustaining, and poets merely reflect what already exists in them.
Line 14:
“Since what he owes thee, thou thyself dost pay.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Owes: Is indebted for.
- Dost pay: Provide or supply.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that poets owe their praise to the beloved, but the beloved themselves provide the qualities that inspire this praise.
Context:
This final line ties together the sonnet’s central theme: the beloved’s beauty and grace are self-sustaining, and poets merely reflect what already exists in them.
Overall Summary:
In Sonnet 79, Shakespeare explores the relationship between the beloved and the poets who praise them. The speaker reflects on how the beloved’s beauty and grace inspire poetry, but ultimately, the praise they receive is derived from their own qualities. The sonnet emphasizes the beloved’s self-sufficiency and the idea that poets merely reflect what already exists in them. It is a meditation on the nature of inspiration and the relationship between art and beauty.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 79
Summary
In Sonnet 79, Shakespeare addresses the growing presence of a rival poet who is now writing about the Fair Youth. He laments that while he once alone received inspiration from the youth, his poetic ability has now declined as another poet takes his place. However, Shakespeare argues that this rival does not create anything original—he merely borrows the youth’s virtues, beauty, and grace and returns them in verse. Therefore, the youth should not be grateful to the rival poet because all praise given to him was already his to begin with.
Critical Analysis
1. Shakespeare’s Diminishing Role as the Youth’s Poet
- The poet begins by expressing disappointment that he no longer has exclusive access to the youth’s inspiration.
- He states that his poetry has lost its “gracious numbers” (elegant verse) and that his “sick Muse” has “given another place”, meaning he has been replaced by another poet.
- This suggests insecurity about his poetic abilities, especially in the face of a rival.
2. A Worthier Poet?
- Shakespeare admits that the youth deserves the efforts of “a worthier pen”, implying that perhaps the rival poet is more skilled.
- However, this admission is immediately undercut by the argument that the rival poet is not actually original.
3. The Rival Poet’s Lack of Originality
- The poet asserts that the rival’s praise of the youth is merely a reflection of the youth’s own qualities:
- “He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word / From thy behaviour.”
- “Beauty doth he give, / And found it in thy cheek.”
- In other words, the rival does not create beauty or virtue—he simply observes and restates what is already present in the youth.
4. The Youth Owes Nothing to the Rival Poet
- Since all praise comes directly from the youth’s own qualities, Shakespeare argues that the youth should not feel indebted to the rival:
- “Then thank him not for that which he doth say, / Since what he owes thee, thou thyself dost pay.”
- The rival is merely an echo of the youth’s inherent greatness, making his poetry redundant.
Theme Analysis
1. The Rival Poet Conflict
- This is one of the Rival Poet sonnets, where Shakespeare expresses anxiety about another poet’s growing influence over the Fair Youth.
- Unlike Sonnet 78, which acknowledged the youth’s universal inspiration, Sonnet 79 is more competitive, suggesting that the rival poet is unnecessary.
2. The Nature of True Poetry
- Shakespeare suggests that true poetry does more than just reflect reality—it should enhance and immortalize its subject.
- The rival poet, in merely borrowing from the youth’s beauty and virtue, fails to contribute anything original.
3. Artistic Insecurity
- Shakespeare acknowledges his own decline in inspiration (“My gracious numbers are decay’d”), showing a rare moment of doubt in his poetic abilities.
- However, he counters this by undermining the rival’s legitimacy.
Literary Devices
1. Metaphor
- “My sick Muse doth give an other place.”
- The poet personifies his Muse as sick and yielding, symbolizing his fading inspiration and displacement by the rival poet.
2. Wordplay and Double Meaning
- “He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word / From thy behaviour.”
- The word “stole” suggests both borrowing and literary theft, implying that the rival poet plagiarizes rather than creates.
3. Parallel Structure
- “He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word / From thy behaviour; beauty doth he give, / And found it in thy cheek.”
- The repeated structure reinforces the idea that the rival’s poetry is merely a reflection, not a creation.
4. Irony
- Shakespeare sarcastically suggests that the youth should not thank the rival poet for his words, when in reality, the rival is trying to win favor through flattery.
Conclusion
In Sonnet 79, Shakespeare begins to take a more direct stance against the Rival Poet, arguing that his work is nothing more than an empty reflection of the Fair Youth’s natural beauty and virtue. While Shakespeare expresses some insecurity about his declining inspiration, he ultimately asserts that the rival poet’s praise is unoriginal and undeserving of the youth’s gratitude. This sonnet continues the ongoing poetic rivalry, further developing the tension between Shakespeare’s admiration for the youth and his fear of being replaced.
