Sonnet 34: Why Didst Thou Promise Such a Beauteous Day
Sonnet 34: Why Didst Thou Promise Such a Beauteous Day - meaning Summary
Promise Broken, Tears Redeem
The speaker reproaches a loved one for promising brightness then abandoning him to shame and disappointment. Using weather imagery, the poem contrasts a promised fair day with clouds that hide the beloved’s courage and leave the speaker exposed. Repentance and apologies cannot undo the loss or public disgrace, yet the closing couplet allows a qualified consolation: the beloved’s tears are valuable enough to atone and restore what was damaged.
Read Complete AnalysesWhy didst thou promise such a beauteous day And make me travel forth without my cloak, To let base clouds o’ertake me in my way, Hiding thy brav’ry in their rotten smoke? ‘Tis not enough that through the cloud thou break, To dry the rain on my storm-beaten face, For no man well of such a salve can speak That heals the wound and cures not the disgrace. Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief; Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss. Th’ offender’s sorrow lends but weak relief To him that bears the strong offence’s cross. Ah, but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds, And they are rich, and ransom all ill deeds.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.