Sonnet 131: Thou Art as Tyrannous, So as Thou Art
Sonnet 131: Thou Art as Tyrannous, So as Thou Art - meaning Summary
Beauty Seen as Cruel
The speaker addresses a beloved whose beauty feels 'tyrannous' because it inspires cruel pride. He admits his own doting devotion while conceding that others claim the beloved’s face lacks power to inspire love. Privately he insists the face does provoke countless sighs and even praises its dark attractiveness, then suggests any accusation of moral blackness comes from slander rather than the beloved’s appearance.
Read Complete AnalysesThou art as tyrannous, so as thou art, As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel; For well thou know’st to my dear doting heart Thou art the fairest and most precious jewel. Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold Thy face hath not the power to make love groan; To say they err I dare not be so bold, Although I swear it to myself alone. And to be sure that is not false I swear, A thousand groans but thinking on thy face, One on another’s neck do witness bear Thy black is fairest in my judgment’s place. In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds, And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds.
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