Sonnet 58: That God Forbid, That Made Me First Your Slave
Sonnet 58: That God Forbid, That Made Me First Your Slave - meaning Summary
Voluntary, Painful Devotion
The speaker presents a resigned, loyal devotion to a beloved who controls time and pleasure. He adopts the language of vassalage, accepting enforced absence and suffering as his duty rather than accusing the beloved of wrongdoing. The poem insists the beloved has sovereign prerogative to use and pardon their own actions, and the speaker will endure waiting—even if it feels like hell—without blaming the beloved for their pleasures.
Read Complete AnalysesThat god forbid, that made me first your slave, I should in thought control your times of pleasure, Or at your hand th’ account of hours to crave, Being your vassal bound to stay your leisure! O, let me suffer, being at your beck, Th’ imprisoned absence of your liberty, And patience tame to sufferance, bide each check, Without accusing you of injury. Be where you list, your charter is so strong That you your self may privilage your time To what you will; to you it doth belong Your self to pardon of self-doing crime. I am to wait, though waiting so be hell, Not blame your pleasure, be it ill or well.
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