Sonnet 99: The Forward Violet Thus Did I Chide
The forward violet thus did I chide:
Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells,
If not from my love’s breath? The purple pride
Which on thy soft cheek for complexion dwells
In my love’s veins thou hast too grossly dy’d.
The lily I condemned for thy hand,
And buds of marjoram had stol’n thy hair;
The roses fearfully on thorns did stand,
One blushing shame, another white despair;
A third, nor red nor white, had stol’n of both,
And to his robbery had annex’d thy breath;
But, for his theft, in pride of all his growth
A vengeful canker eat him up to death.
More flowers I noted, yet I none could see,
But sweet, or colour it had stol’n from thee.
Line 1:
“The forward violet thus did I chide:”
Difficult words meaning:
- Forward: Early blooming or presumptuous.
- Chide: Scold or rebuke.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by addressing a violet, scolding it for blooming early and presumptuously.
Context:
This line sets the tone for the sonnet, introducing the theme of the speaker’s playful accusation that flowers have stolen their beauty from the beloved.
Line 2:
“Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Sweet thief: The violet, accused of stealing its sweetness.
- Whence: From where.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses the violet of being a thief, questioning where it stole its sweet scent if not from the beloved’s breath.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s playful belief that the beloved’s beauty and qualities are so extraordinary that even nature imitates them.
Line 3:
“If not from my love’s breath? The purple pride”
Difficult words meaning:
- Purple pride: The vibrant purple color of the violet.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the violet’s vibrant purple color must have been stolen from the beloved’s veins, as it is too beautiful to be natural.
Context:
This line continues the playful accusation, emphasizing the beloved’s unparalleled beauty.
Line 4:
“Which on thy soft cheek for complexion dwells”
Difficult words meaning:
- Complexion: Color or appearance.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that the violet’s soft, purple color must have been taken from the beloved’s complexion, further emphasizing the beloved’s beauty.
Context:
This line reinforces the idea that the beloved’s beauty is so extraordinary that even flowers imitate it.
Line 5:
“In my love’s veins thou hast too grossly dy’d.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Grossly dy’d: Excessively or crudely colored.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses the violet of having taken too much color from the beloved’s veins, making its purple hue too intense.
Context:
This line continues the playful accusation, suggesting that the violet’s beauty is a crude imitation of the beloved’s.
Line 6:
“The lily I condemned for thy hand,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Condemned: Accused or blamed.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses the lily of stealing its whiteness from the beloved’s hand, suggesting that the beloved’s beauty is the source of the lily’s purity.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s belief that the beloved’s beauty is the ultimate standard, which even flowers strive to imitate.
Line 7:
“And buds of marjoram had stol’n thy hair;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Marjoram: A fragrant herb.
- Stol’n thy hair: Stolen the color or texture of your hair.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses marjoram buds of stealing the color or texture of the beloved’s hair, further emphasizing the beloved’s influence on nature.
Context:
This line continues the playful accusation, suggesting that even the texture and color of the beloved’s hair are imitated by nature.
Line 8:
“The roses fearfully on thorns did stand,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Fearfully: Anxiously or nervously.
Explanation:
The speaker describes roses as standing nervously on their thorns, as if aware of their guilt in stealing from the beloved.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s playful belief that even roses are aware of their theft and feel guilty about it.
Line 9:
“One blushing shame, another white despair;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Blushing shame: A red rose, symbolizing shame.
- White despair: A white rose, symbolizing despair.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that one rose blushes with shame, while another turns white with despair, as they are aware of their guilt in stealing from the beloved.
Context:
This line continues the playful accusation, emphasizing the roses’ awareness of their theft and their emotional response to it.
Line 10:
“A third, nor red nor white, had stol’n of both,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Nor red nor white: Neither fully red nor fully white.
Explanation:
The speaker accuses a third rose of stealing both red and white from the beloved, creating a mixed color.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s belief that even the mixed colors of roses are imitations of the beloved’s beauty.
Line 11:
“And to his robbery had annex’d thy breath;”
Difficult words meaning:
- Annex’d: Added or attached.
- Breath: Scent or fragrance.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the third rose not only stole color from the beloved but also added their breath (scent) to its robbery.
Context:
This line continues the playful accusation, emphasizing the extent of the roses’ theft from the beloved.
Line 12:
“But, for his theft, in pride of all his growth”
Difficult words meaning:
- Pride of all his growth: The peak of its beauty or maturity.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the third rose, at the peak of its beauty, was punished for its theft.
Context:
This line introduces the idea that the rose’s theft was met with divine retribution.
Line 13:
“A vengeful canker eat him up to death.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Vengeful canker: A destructive worm or disease.
- Eat him up to death: Consumed it completely, leading to its death.
Explanation:
The speaker claims that a vengeful canker (a destructive worm or disease) consumed the third rose as punishment for its theft, leading to its death.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s belief that the rose’s theft was met with divine retribution, emphasizing the seriousness of its crime.
Line 14:
“More flowers I noted, yet I none could see,”
Difficult words meaning:
- Noted: Observed or noticed.
Explanation:
The speaker admits that he observed many flowers, but none could he see that had not stolen their beauty from the beloved.
Context:
This line underscores the speaker’s belief that all flowers derive their beauty from the beloved, making them imitations rather than originals.
Line 15:
“But sweet, or colour it had stol’n from thee.”
Difficult words meaning:
- Sweet: Fragrance or beauty.
- Colour: Color or hue.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes by stating that every flower he observed had stolen either its sweetness or its color from the beloved, further emphasizing the beloved’s unparalleled beauty.
Context:
This final line ties together the sonnet’s central theme: the speaker’s playful belief that the beloved’s beauty is so extraordinary that even nature imitates it, making all flowers thieves of the beloved’s qualities.
Overall Summary:
In Sonnet 99, Shakespeare explores the themes of beauty, imitation, and the beloved’s unparalleled influence on nature. The speaker playfully accuses various flowers of stealing their beauty, color, and fragrance from the beloved, suggesting that the beloved’s beauty is the ultimate standard that even nature strives to imitate. The sonnet is a whimsical meditation on the beloved’s extraordinary beauty and the idea that all natural beauty is a reflection or imitation of the beloved’s qualities. It is a celebration of the beloved’s influence on the world and the speaker’s playful admiration for their unmatched beauty.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 99
Summary
Sonnet 99 is unique among Shakespeare’s sonnets because it has 15 lines instead of the typical 14. The speaker scolds the flowers for stealing their beauty and fragrance from the Fair Youth, suggesting that nature itself borrows its loveliness from him.
The first quatrain begins with the poet chastising the violet:
- The violet is a “sweet thief”, having stolen its fragrance from the youth’s breath.
- Its purple color is accused of being dyed too deeply with the youth’s blood.
The second quatrain expands the metaphor to other flowers:
- The lily is condemned for copying his hand’s fairness.
- Buds of marjoram (a sweet-smelling herb) have stolen the softness and scent of his hair.
- The roses are personified, expressing emotions:
- The red rose blushes with shame.
- The white rose turns pale in despair.
The third quatrain introduces a third rose:
- This hybrid rose, neither fully red nor white, has stolen from both and taken the youth’s breath.
- However, because of its pride in this theft, it is punished by a canker worm, which eats it to death.
The final couplet delivers the resolution:
- The poet has seen many flowers, but none that did not steal some beauty from the youth.
Critical Analysis
1. Nature Imitates the Fair Youth
- Rather than comparing the youth’s beauty to nature, Shakespeare reverses the convention:
- It is not that the youth is as beautiful as a flower—instead, flowers are only beautiful because they resemble him.
- This inverts traditional Petrarchan praise, elevating the youth above nature.
2. The Theme of Theft
- The sonnet frames nature as a thief that has stolen its best qualities from the youth.
- Even life-giving elements (such as fragrance and color) are depicted as stolen property.
3. The Symbolism of the Canker Worm
- The canker worm represents the consequences of false pride:
- The hybrid rose is destroyed for taking too much from the youth.
- This could symbolize corruption, decay, or the fleeting nature of stolen beauty.
4. Idealization of the Fair Youth
- Shakespeare portrays the Fair Youth as so perfect that nature itself must imitate him.
- This reflects Renaissance ideals of beauty and the poet’s devotion.
Theme Analysis
1. The Superiority of Human Beauty
- Shakespeare elevates human beauty above nature, arguing that even the most perfect flowers fall short.
- This contrasts with traditional poetry that praises nature as the ultimate ideal.
2. The Transience of Beauty
- While the youth’s beauty seems eternal, flowers wither and decay—as seen in the fate of the canker-infested rose.
- This aligns with Shakespeare’s recurring theme of impermanence.
3. The Relationship Between Art and Nature
- By accusing nature of imitation, Shakespeare suggests that beauty is not a fixed entity—it is interpreted and transformed through art.
Literary Devices
1. Personification
- The violet is called a “sweet thief”, accused of stealing fragrance.
- The roses blush and turn pale, acting as sentient beings.
2. Metaphor
- The youth’s breath is metaphorically transformed into fragrance.
- The canker worm symbolizes punishment for vanity and theft.
3. Imagery
- The poem is rich with sensory details:
- Sight: The deep purple of the violet, the white and red of the roses.
- Smell: The scent of marjoram and violets.
- Touch: The softness of the flowers mimicking the youth’s skin and hair.
4. Alliteration
- “Sweet thief” → Reinforces the idea of beauty being stolen.
- “Blushing shame” / “White despair” → Emphasizes emotional contrasts in the roses.
Conclusion
Sonnet 99 is a fascinating meditation on beauty, theft, and transience. Shakespeare inverts the typical poetic convention by suggesting that nature takes its inspiration from the Fair Youth, not the other way around. However, this imitation comes with a warning—pride and vanity lead to decay, just as the canker worm destroys the rose.
