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Tragedies of William Shakespeare and Sonnets: Sonnets 80 - 89

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From: Monarch Notes
Date: 19630101
Author:Shakespeare, William

Shakespeare, William
Monarch Notes
01-01-1963
Critic: Violli, Unicio J.
Affiliation: Associate Professor Of English, Fairleigh Dickinson University

Sonnets 80 - 89

(80) - "o, how I faint . . ."

Summary:

The other poet obtains the height of your favor, but my verse, though
inferior, still shares in it. If he thrives in your favor and I do not, then
my love for you was the cause of my downfall.

Paraphrase

1. O, how I faint when I now write about you,

2. knowing a better poet can use your name;

3. and in praising it spends all his energies,

4. so that I am tongue-tied when ...

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