Theme: 10th Muse
Content: A play on numbers culminating with the subject being the 10th Muse.
How can my muse want
subject to
invent
While thou
dost breathe,
that
pour'st into
my verse
Thine own sweet
argument, too
excellent
For every vulgar
paper to
rehearse?
- Possible pun on the number 2 (representing the author and subject) in to, into, too, to, particularly given its positioning in each line that gives it extra emphasis.
- Possible pun on Wriothesley in "write to thee".
Be thou
the
tenth
muse, ten
times
more in worth
Than those
old nine
which
rhymers invocate,
And he that
calls on thee,
let him bring
forth
Eternal
numbers
to outlive
long date.
- Excluding the th references, the letter t appears 10 times in this quatrain, reflecting the tenth muse.
- nine continues the number references.
- For and forth continue the number references.
- Explicit reference to numbers (meaning verse) extends the numeric references.
- Astute positioning of the reference to the 10th. muse in line 9 signifying that the subject being the 10th. muse is the natural successor to the Nine Muses that you would naturally expect to be in the 9th. line. Its positioning at the start of the significant 3rd. quatrain provides added emphasis.
- Equally astute positioning of the reference to the Nine Muses in line 10, signifying that they are passé, old and incongruous.
- The reference to "rhymers" shows Shakespeare setting himself apart from other poets who merely contrive jingle-like rhymes, inferior to the majestic verse that he creates.
If my slight
muse
do please these
curious days,
The pain
be
mine,
but thine
shall
be
the praise.
- The th and ht references appear 30 times in the whole sonnet.
- Mid-line rhyme of mine with thine, plus an eye-rhyme with pain.
- The subject as Muse is credited with giving light in line 8 but is now considered slight in the couplet.
Critical text © NigelDavies.home@Virgin.net