Monday, March 3, 2014

Sonnet 51, by NY Shakespeare Exchange


Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need.
O! what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,
In winged speed no motion shall I know,
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace.
Therefore desire, (of perfect'st love being made)
Shall neigh, no dull flesh, in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade-
     Since from thee going, he went wilful-slow,
     Towards thee I'll run, and give him leave to go.
Sonnet 51, from The Sonnet Project, by the New York Shakespeare Exchange.

I am happy to get acquainted with Shakespeare's sonnets, after focusing for decades on his plays.  This one is yet another of his deft poetic efforts.  He captures well that tension desire creates, that dullness love feigns, that motionlessness high speed lends.  It is positively Einstein in reference, long before Einstein was anyone to reference: that is, Theory of Special Relativity, where time stops, when one travels at the speed of light.  Finally, it was a fine cinematic touch to refer to the elevated train as the modern day horse, that Brian Vaughan gives leave to go, as he rushes excitedly to his lover.

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