Shakespeare's Sonnets: The other two, slight air and purging fire

Shakespeare's Sonnets: The other two, slight air and purging fire

Sonnet 45

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): d2r.
1The other two, slight air and purging fire,
2Are both with thee, where ever I abide;
3The first my thought, the other my desire,
4These present-absent with swift motion slide.
5For when these quicker elements are gone
6In tender embassy of love to thee,
7My life, being made of four, with two alone
8Sinks down to death, oppress't with melancholy.
9Until life's composition be recured
10By those swift messengers return'd from thee,
11Who ev'n but now come back again assured
12Of their fair health, recounting it to me.
13    This told, I joy, but then no longer glad,
14    I send them back again and straight grow sad.

Notes

1] The four elements are earth and water (treated in the previous sonnet), and air and fire, which correspond to the "humours" of mankind, respectively, melancholic and phlegmatic, and sanguine and choleric. Back to Line
7] two] earth (melancholy) and water (tears; cf. 44.14). Back to Line
8] melancholy] presumably elided. Back to Line
9] life's] liues Q. composition] composed of the quantities of the four humours. recured] healed, restored. Back to Line
10] messengers] air and fire. Back to Line
11] ev'n] euen Q. Back to Line
12] their] sometimes emended to "thy," but the apparent referent, "messengers" (line 10), makes sense: the sonnet is about Shakespeare's health, not that of the beloved. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet