When my love swears that she is made of truth a
I do believe her, though I know she lies, b
That she might think me some untutor'd youth, a
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties. b
{First quatrain; note the puns and the intellectual games: [I know she lies,
so I believe her so that she will believe me to be young and untutored]}
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young, c
Although she knows my days are past the best, d
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue: c
On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd. d
{Second quatrain: [Well of course I know that she doesn't really think I'm young,
but I have to pretend to believe her so that she will pretend that I'm young]}
But wherefore says she not she is unjust? e
And wherefore say not I that I am old? f
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust, e
And age in love loves not to have years told: f
{Third quatrain: [so why don't we both fess up? because love depends upon
trust and upon youth]}
Therefore I lie with her and she with me, g
And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be. g
{Final couplet, and resolution: [we lie to ourselves and to each other,
so that we may flatter ourselves that we are young, honest, and in love]. Note especially the puns.
Send comments or suggestions to the author of this page, Glenn Everett.
geverett@utm.edu