Sonnet 92: But Do Thy Worst To Steal Thyself Away
But do thy worst to steal thyself away,
For term of life thou art assured mine;
And life no longer than thy love will stay,
For it depends upon that love of thine.
Then need I not to fear the worst of wrongs,
When in the least of them my life hath end.
I see a better state to me belongs
Than that which on thy humour doth depend:
Thou canst not vex me with inconstant mind,
Since that my life on thy revolt doth lie.
O what a happy title do I find,
Happy to have thy love, happy to die!
But what’s so blessed-fair that fears no blot?
Thou mayst be false, and yet I know it not.
Line 1:
“But do thy worst to steal thyself away,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Steal thyself away: Leave or abandon me secretly.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by challenging the beloved to do their worst and leave him, suggesting that he is prepared for the possibility of abandonment.
Context:
This line sets the tone for the sonnet, introducing the theme of the speaker’s resilience and his acceptance of the beloved’s potential betrayal.
Line 2:
“For term of life thou art assured mine;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Term of life: Duration of life.
- Assured: Guaranteed or certain.
Explanation:
The speaker asserts that the beloved is guaranteed to be his for the duration of his life, suggesting a deep sense of possession and commitment.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s confidence in the beloved’s loyalty, at least for the time being.
Line 3:
“And life no longer than thy love will stay,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Stay: Remain or endure.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that his life is tied to the beloved’s love, and if the beloved’s love ends, so will his life.
Context:
This line emphasizes the speaker’s dependence on the beloved’s love for his own sense of existence and happiness.
Line 4:
“For it depends upon that love of thine.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Depends upon: Relies on or is contingent upon.
Explanation:
The speaker reiterates that his life is contingent on the beloved’s love, further emphasizing his emotional dependence.
Context:
This line underscores the idea that the speaker’s life and happiness are deeply intertwined with the beloved’s love.
Line 5:
“Then need I not to fear the worst of wrongs,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Worst of wrongs: The most severe betrayals or hurts.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that he does not need to fear the worst betrayals, as his life would end with the loss of the beloved’s love.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s acceptance of the possibility of betrayal and his belief that it would be the end of his life.
Line 6:
“When in the least of them my life hath end.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Least of them: The smallest of wrongs or betrayals.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that even the smallest betrayal would end his life, further emphasizing his emotional dependence on the beloved.
Context:
This line highlights the speaker’s vulnerability and his belief that his life is inextricably tied to the beloved’s love.
Line 7:
“I see a better state to me belongs”
Difficult words meaning:
- Better state: A more favorable condition or situation.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that a more favorable state belongs to him, one that is not dependent on the beloved’s whims or moods.
Context:
This line introduces a shift in the sonnet, as the speaker begins to consider a state of independence from the beloved’s love.
Line 8:
“Than that which on thy humour doth depend:”
Difficult words meaning:
- Humour: Mood or temperament.
Explanation:
The speaker contrasts his current state of dependence on the beloved’s moods with a more favorable state of independence.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s desire for a more stable and self-sufficient state of being.
Line 9:
“Thou canst not vex me with inconstant mind,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Vex: Trouble or distress.
- Inconstant mind: Fickle or changing feelings.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that the beloved’s fickleness cannot trouble him, as his life depends on their love and would end with its loss.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s resilience and his acceptance of the beloved’s potential inconstancy.
Line 10:
“Since that my life on thy revolt doth lie.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Revolt: Betrayal or abandonment.
Explanation:
The speaker reiterates that his life is contingent on the beloved’s loyalty, and their betrayal would mean the end of his life.
Context:
This line emphasizes the speaker’s emotional dependence and his acceptance of the potential consequences of betrayal.
Line 11:
“O what a happy title do I find,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Happy title: Fortunate claim or right.
Explanation:
The speaker exclaims that he has found a fortunate claim or right, suggesting a sense of contentment or satisfaction.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s realization that his dependence on the beloved’s love brings him a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
Line 12:
“Happy to have thy love, happy to die!”
Difficult words meaning:
- Happy to die: Content to die.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that he is happy to have the beloved’s love and content to die if it is lost, emphasizing his deep emotional connection.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s belief that his happiness is tied to the beloved’s love, and he is willing to accept the consequences of its loss.
Line 13:
“But what’s so blessed-fair that fears no blot?”
Difficult words meaning:
- Blessed-fair: Beautiful and blessed.
- Blot: Stain or blemish.
Explanation:
The speaker questions what is so perfect and blessed that it is immune to flaws or blemishes, suggesting that even the beloved’s love is not without its vulnerabilities.
Context:
This line introduces a note of doubt, as the speaker acknowledges the potential for imperfection in the beloved’s love.
Line 14:
“Thou mayst be false, and yet I know it not.”
Difficult words meaning:
- False: Unfaithful or deceitful.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by acknowledging the possibility that the beloved may be unfaithful, even if he is unaware of it.
Context:
This final line ties together the sonnet’s central theme: the speaker’s deep dependence on the beloved’s love and his acceptance of the potential for betrayal, even if it remains hidden.
Overall Summary:
In Sonnet 92, Shakespeare explores the themes of love, dependence, and vulnerability. The speaker declares that his life is contingent on the beloved’s love and that he is prepared for the possibility of betrayal. He finds happiness in the beloved’s love but also acknowledges the potential for imperfection and deceit. The sonnet reflects the speaker’s deep emotional dependence on the beloved and his acceptance of the fragility of his happiness. It is a poignant meditation on the nature of love and the vulnerability that comes with it.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 92
Summary
In Sonnet 92, Shakespeare continues to explore the theme of love’s power and its connection to life and death. The speaker addresses the Fair Youth, telling him that he may betray or abandon him, but it does not matter because his life is entirely dependent on the youth’s love. If that love ends, so will the speaker’s life.
The first quatrain establishes this idea:
- The speaker acknowledges that the youth has the power to leave him (“But do thy worst to steal thyself away”).
- However, he reassures himself that as long as he is alive, the youth’s love must still exist (“For term of life thou art assured mine”).
- His very existence depends on the beloved’s love, meaning that when that love disappears, life itself will end (“And life no longer than thy love will stay”).
In the second quatrain, the speaker reflects on this dynamic:
- There is no need to fear the worst betrayals (“Then need I not to fear the worst of wrongs”) because even the smallest betrayal would result in his death (“When in the least of them my life hath end”).
- He realizes that he is in a better position than someone whose happiness depends on the beloved’s changing moods (“I see a better state to me belongs / Than that which on thy humour doth depend”).
- If his entire life is tied to the beloved’s love, then instability in that love will bring a definitive end, eliminating prolonged suffering.
The third quatrain intensifies the idea that death is preferable to heartbreak:
- Since his life will end if the youth ceases to love him, he cannot be tormented by emotional suffering (“Thou canst not vex me with inconstant mind, / Since that my life on thy revolt doth lie.”).
- He ironically finds joy in this arrangement (“O what a happy title do I find, / Happy to have thy love, happy to die!”).
- The paradox is clear: he is “happy” because if he is loved, he wins, and if he is betrayed, he dies and is spared the pain of heartbreak.
The final couplet, however, introduces a new level of uncertainty:
- The speaker suddenly doubts his assumption—what if the beloved has already been unfaithful, and he simply does not know it? (“But what’s so blessed-fair that fears no blot? / Thou mayst be false, and yet I know it not.”).
- This final realization leaves the poem on a more unsettling note: ignorance might be the only thing preventing his despair.
Critical Analysis
1. Love, Life, and Death as Interwoven Themes
A major idea in Sonnet 92 is that love and life are inseparably linked. The speaker does not merely say that love is important to him—he claims that his very existence depends on it. This is an extreme emotional position, suggesting that without the beloved’s love, life has no purpose.
The speaker finds comfort in the belief that as long as he is alive, the youth must still love him. However, this belief is ultimately flawed, as the final couplet reveals: what if he is already being deceived?
2. The Irony of “Happiness” in Death
A striking feature of this sonnet is its dark irony. The speaker claims to be “happy” whether the youth remains faithful or not—because even in betrayal, he will die and thus escape suffering. However, this “happiness” is built on a grim foundation: it assumes that emotional pain will be so unbearable that death would be preferable. This creates a paradox:
- If he is loved, he is happy.
- If he is betrayed, he is also “happy”—but only because he will not live long enough to suffer.
This extreme perspective reveals the depth of the speaker’s emotional dependence on the beloved.
3. The Power of Uncertainty
The final couplet introduces an unsettling possibility: what if the beloved is already unfaithful, but the speaker remains blissfully unaware? Throughout the poem, the speaker has found security in believing that love and life are directly linked. However, this belief is undermined at the very end.
This suggests that ignorance might be a form of protection—the speaker cannot be hurt by betrayal unless he knows about it. But if the betrayal is already happening, then his assumption about dying the moment love ends is false.
This realization leaves the poem unresolved. The speaker has not yet discovered any betrayal, but the possibility lingers, casting a shadow over everything he has just said.
Theme Analysis
1. Love as a Life Force
The poem presents love as the speaker’s very reason for existence. His life is sustained by the youth’s affection, meaning that love is not just an emotion but a life-sustaining force.
2. The Paradox of Love and Death
Love is depicted as both the greatest joy and the greatest risk. If love remains, the speaker is happy; if it disappears, he will die, which is presented as a form of relief. This paradox reinforces the intensity of the speaker’s devotion.
3. The Fear of Betrayal and the Role of Ignorance
The poem initially suggests that betrayal is not a concern because the speaker will die before he experiences the pain of it. However, the final couplet introduces a troubling thought—what if betrayal has already occurred, but the speaker is unaware? This highlights a key theme: the tension between love, trust, and the fear of deception.
4. Emotional Dependence in Love
The speaker’s total reliance on the youth’s love raises questions about the dangers of emotional dependence. His happiness, identity, and even survival are entirely dependent on another person’s actions, making him vulnerable to immense suffering.
Literary Devices
1. Apostrophe (Direct Address to the Beloved)
- “But do thy worst to steal thyself away.”
- The speaker directly addresses the Fair Youth, giving the poem an intimate, personal tone.
2. Paradox (Contradictory Statements That Reveal a Truth)
- “Happy to have thy love, happy to die!”
- The idea that the speaker would be equally happy in love and in death is a contradiction, yet it reflects the extreme nature of his emotions.
3. Irony (Saying One Thing but Meaning Another)
- The speaker claims he does not fear betrayal because it will end his life, preventing prolonged suffering. However, this logic is ironic because it suggests that love brings both ultimate joy and ultimate despair.
4. Enjambment (Running Lines Without Pauses for Flow and Emphasis)
- “For term of life thou art assured mine; / And life no longer than thy love will stay.”
- The continuation of thought across lines mirrors the speaker’s continuous contemplation about love and death.
5. Rhetorical Question (A Question That Does Not Expect an Answer)
- “But what’s so blessed-fair that fears no blot?”
- The speaker questions whether anything truly beautiful can be without flaws, subtly suggesting that the Fair Youth may not be as perfect as he once believed.
Conclusion
Sonnet 92 is a deeply introspective meditation on love’s power and its connection to life and death. The speaker finds comfort in believing that as long as he is alive, he is loved—but this belief is fragile. The final couplet introduces a chilling uncertainty: what if betrayal has already happened, and he simply does not know?
This poem captures Shakespeare’s recurring themes of love, devotion, and the fear of loss. It also highlights the dangers of emotional dependence—when one’s entire sense of self is tied to another person, the potential for suffering becomes immense. The speaker’s “happiness” in love is therefore bittersweet, constantly threatened by the possibility of deception.
