| Paraphrase of Sonnet IIII |
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NEW year forth looking out of Janus's gate, Does seem to promise hope of new delight: and bidding the old adieu, his passed date bids all old thoughts to die in dumpish spright. |
As the new year looks forward from the threshold between the new year and the old, it [i.e. the new year] seems to promise hope of new delight: and both the new year and I say goodbye to the old year because the old year is past its time, and the fact of his passing bids all old thoughts [i.e. thoughts of things that are old, as well as thoughts that have been around for a while] to die in a spirit of disinterest. |
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And calling forth out of sad Winter's night, fresh love, that long has slept in cheerless bower: wills him awake, and soon about him dight his wanton wings and darts of deadly power. |
And new love, that has slept in a gloomy bedroom for a prolonged
period during the sad night of Winter, wills the new year awake, and soon the new love has arranged about him his unrestrained and extravagant wings and arrows. |
| For lusty spring now in his timely hour, is ready to come forth him to receive: and warns the Earth with diverse coloured flower, to deck herself, and her fair mantle weave. |
For joyful and sexually interested spring, whose time has now come, is ready to come forth to receive him [here "him" seems to refer to both the new year and new love]: and spring uses the many coloured flowers to alert the Earth that it is time to cover herself with her fair mantle [i.e. springtime features: new grass, new leaves, new life]. |
| Then you faire flower, in whom fresh youth does reign, prepare yourself new love to entertain. |
Then you faire flower, in whom fresh youth does reign, prepare yourself new love to entertain. |
| Return to Sonnet IIII. |
This page last modified January 17, 2005 |