The Renaissance - Sonnets

1.Shakespeare and Spencer's rhyme schemes are similar except for Shakespeare uses ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and Spencer uses ABAB BCBC CDCD EE. By reading over the poems a couple of times, I like the rhyme schemes by Spencer better because he uses B four times, and the rhyme schemes capture my attention for a longer time period.

2.In the first section of Shakespeare- ABAB I thought he was asking should he compare his love to a summer day, then states that even though the summer is beautiful the winds can still destroy the flowers and make it ugly. Then he states "And summer's lease hath all to short date", meaning that even though summer comes and its beautiful it does not stay forever, it ends up leaving and changing into another season. In the second section of his sonnet I think he is pointing out that even though it is beautiful it might not be as it seems to the naked eye. I'm mean its like he said he might have gold, but eventually that gold might dim, and fade, then how beautiful is it then. Then while reading the third section he flips completely what he was saying. He says beauty can never fade away, that it shall never die, and that his love will always be the beautiful things he stated. In his conclusion Shakespeare says"So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,So long lives this, and gives life to thee. (G)" He is saying that no matter what as long as people can read, and this poem gets around, then you will never die or fade away.


Spencer's Sonnet
My love is like to ice, and I to fire; (A)
-His heart is cold, but he is warm
How comes it then that this her cold so great (B)
-Why is it that he finds her so lovely.
Is not dissolved through my so hot desire, (A)
- How is it that she get to him.
But harder grows the more I her entreat? (B)
-he wants to find a way to get to her.

Or how comes it that my exceeding heat (B)
-When she comes around he gets a funny feeling.
Is not delayed by her heart frozen cold, (C)
-Is it by her coldness that she pretrays
But that I burn much more in boiling sweat, (B)
-That this feeling gets much more intense
And feel my flames augmented manifold? (C)
-That he just can't control his feelings about her.

What more miraculous thing may be told (C)
-how much more magical could it get.
That fire which all thing melts, should harden ice, (D)
-That even though fire is supposed to melt things, she makes them solid.
And ice which is congealed with senseless cold, (C)
-Ice which is supposed to freeze is nothing.
Should kindle fire by wonderful device? (D)
-That love can make these things disappear.

Such is the power of love in gentle mind, (E)
-Is love really as bad as people make it sound, or is it gentle and kind?
That it can alter all the course of kind. (E)
-Can love change the way people are, and make harsh ones loving and easy.

3.Shakespeare
Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly? A
- If you have something so precious as music, why listen to it sadly, listen to it as if it is a gift, don't take it for granted.
Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy: B
- Love one another don't fight, enjoy everything little thing.
Why lov'st thou that which thou receiv'st not gladly, A
- Why should you love someone who doesn't love you back. You deserve more, never let someone take your given love for granted.
Or else receiv'st with pleasure thine annoy? B
- You should be thankful, and ignore the little things.

If the true concord of well-tuned sounds, C
- If this how music really sounds to the ear
By unions married do offend thine ear, D
- When two are united through marriage, then they will have disagreements that they will go through
They do but sweetly chide thee, who confounds C
- But although you have disagreements, if you can work through them then they will make you strong, but only if you have trust.
In singleness the parts that thou shouldst bear: D
- When your single all you have to worry about is your problems and no one else.

Mark how one string sweet husband to another, E
- Compare your husband to an others husband, see how there differ.
Strikes each in each by mutual ordering; F
- They all have things that you could compare, but they are different in the own way.
Resembling sire, and child, and happy mother, E
-They all have love, and a child, and a happy mother.
Who all in one, one pleasing note do sing: F
- They are all one together, and together as one they make a happy picture.

Whose speechless song being many, seeming one, G
-They're are tons who marry, but only the ones who can relate make it.
Sings this to thee, 'Thou single wilt prove none' G
-But those who are single, they have nothing to prove to anyone, but only to themselves.





Spencer
Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day(A)
-To the Lord, on this very day
Didst make thy triumph over death and sin,(B)
- We shall be happy, because we defeated death and sin.
And having harrowed hell, didst bring away(A)
-Hell is now having to leave
Captivity thence captive, us to win:(B)
- We won, and that's how it was supposed to happen

This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin,(B)
-At the beginning of this day it began with joy.
And grant that we, for whom thou diddest die,(C)
- And granted we won, the sin died.
Being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin,(B)
- Being from you my sins are wiped clean, I am pure.
May live forever in felicity:(C)
- My life is forever in you.

And that thy love we weighing worthily,(C)
- And dear Lord your love is worthy.
May likewise love thee for the same again;(D)
- Will you please make my love just as worthy.
And for thy sake, that all like dear didst buy,(C)
-For the Sake of me, and all those who are dear to me.
May love with one another entertain.(D)
-Make them able to love one another regardless.

So let us love, dear love, like as we ought,(E)
-So let us love one another, like we should with respect
Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.(E)
- The Lord only gave us one lesson to learn and that was how to love.




4.My Sonnet
Why do I love you,
Why shall I care,
My heart is like a feather,
Your love is like so unfair,

You push me aside,
Holding all your feeling away,
How am I supposed to love you,
When you don't even care either way,

When you do love its beautiful,
But then it can disappear in a flash,
Never knowing what shadow your in,
The future or the past,

Send me a sign please,
So I won't be in your way,
Because I don't know why I love you,
It changes day to day.