Even in thyn armes thair, doutles, had I deit. Alexander Montgomerie – To His Maistress
What is this?
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Paraphrase:
If your breath had not replaced them,
Even in your arms, doubtless, I would have died.
Here is the turn in the poem.
He has lost all of these vital things, but at last he survives!
He lives because of her breath, but without it he would have died (even if he were in her arms!).
She breathed life into him.
The lines in the couplet parallel one another, having similar first “e” sounds followed by “thy” and finally, they rhyme. This makes the poem sound conclusive. Even without understanding the words, a listener would expect this to be the end of the poem: what a good use of form!
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
Paraphrase:
So you have kept all three captive,
I guess that’s what happens when you steal things. He shouldn’t have reft that first kis!
Notice the “th” alliteration here. All of this alliteration keeps the sonnet musical and pleasing to hear.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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Paraphrase:
But it was so enamored with your eye,
Here we go again…
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Paraphrase:
To find my spirit, I sent my heart to you;
That doesn’t really seem like the smartest move considering his history with sending important things to his mistress.
I wonder what will happen this time…
“s” alliteration.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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Paraphrase:
And left my corpse as cold as any key
kie- key
He is basically a corps now that his lyfe and his spreits have left him…
Key-cold used to be a more common analogy… Basically, metal keys were known to be cold.
There are “l” repetition and “c” alliteration in this line.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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Paraphrase:
It fled my body to follow you,
He has already lost his lyfe, but now his spreits, too? What more could he have to give?
“f” alliteration here.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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Millay has been talking about how Love is not all, but at the same time, it has caused many people to stop wanting to live.
She is actually saying it is all. It is in the end the difference between life and death.
41,431
I made this annotation a while ago, and revisiting it, I think you’re right. Especially since that would split it into an octave and sestet.
191,902
Is this the turn, or is it two lines lower?