Thus can my love excuse the slow offence...
Sonnet 51Thus 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 reign 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. |
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[Continuing from the theme of the last sonnet]
This is how my love excuses the slowness of my horse when I’m going away from you:
Why should I hurry away from where you are? Until I’m coming back, there’s no need to hurry. But then, when I do return, what excuse for tardiness will my poor horse have recourse to, when even the swiftest transport will seem sluggardly? On my return, even if I were riding the very wind, I’d still stick spurs into it. I’d feel as if even winged speed were standing still. Once I’m on my way back to you, no horse could possibly satisfy my desire for speed. So desire, being made of love, won’t reign in flesh and blood in their fiery race, but love for love’s sake, will excuse my horse like this:
Since he went away from you obstinately slowly, on the return journey, I’ll not hold him back from running.