XII: What Counsel Has the Hooded Moon explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Longing

  The narrator's passionate declaration and dismissal of cosmic wisdom in favor of personal love.

• Nature and Mood

  The hooded moon and mist set a reflective, romantic mood that contrasts with the narrator's earthly focus.

Characters to notice

• Narrator

  Addresses the beloved, asserting his own wisdom over the moon's.

• Beloved

  Referred to as 'my shyly sweet' and 'sweet sentimentalist,' the object of the narrator's address.

• Love

  Mentioned as a figure in ancient plenilune, with glory and stars beneath his feet.

Key passages

• “What counsel has the hooded moon Put in thy heart, my shyly sweet, Of Love in ancient plenilune, Glory and stars beneath his feet⁠— A sage that is but kith and kin With the comedian Capuchin?”

  What advice has the hidden moon given you, my shy sweetheart, about Love in its ancient fullness, with glory and stars beneath his feet—a wise figure who is merely related to the comic Capuchin monk?

  The narrator questions the moon's influence on the beloved's understanding of love.

• “Believe me rather that am wise In disregard of the divine, A glory kindles in those eyes Trembles to starlight. Mine, O Mine!”

  Trust me instead, who am wise in ignoring the divine; a glory ignites in your eyes and shimmers like starlight. Mine, oh mine!

  The narrator asserts his own wisdom, focusing on the beloved's eyes as a source of glory.

• “No more be tears in moon or mist For thee, sweet sentimentalist.”

  Let there be no more tears in the moon or mist for you, sweet sentimentalist.

  The narrator urges the beloved to stop crying over romantic or natural imagery.