# Sonnet LXXIX explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The poet laments that his verse, once solely devoted to the beloved, has declined in quality, and he now yields to a worthier poet. He argues that any praise the rival poet gives the beloved is merely borrowed from the beloved's own virtues, so the beloved owes no thanks.

## Themes in this chapter

### Truth and Deception

The poet exposes the rival's praise as a mere return of what the beloved already possesses, questioning the authenticity of flattery.

### Art and Immortality

The poet reflects on the power of verse to attribute virtues, yet acknowledges that true worth resides in the beloved, not in the poet's invention.

## Character check-ins

### William Shakespeare

The poet who calls upon his muse and acknowledges his declining verse.

### Muse

The poet's sick muse that gives place to another.

## Key lines

> Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid, My verse alone had all thy gentle grace, But now my gracious numbers are decay’d, And my sick Muse doth give another place.

When I was the only one invoking your help, my poetry alone captured all your gentle charm; but now my graceful verses have declined, and my ailing Muse yields to another poet.

_The poet acknowledges his creative decline and the arrival of a rival._

> He lends thee virtue and he stole that word From thy behaviour; beauty doth he give And found it in thy cheek; he can afford No praise to thee but what in thee doth live.

He attributes virtue to you, but he stole that description from your own conduct; he gives you beauty, but he found it in your cheek; he can offer no praise that does not already exist in you.

_The poet argues that the rival's praise is merely a reflection of the beloved's inherent qualities._

> Then thank him not for that which he doth say, Since what he owes thee thou thyself dost pay.

So do not thank him for what he says, because what he owes you, you yourself provide.

_The poet concludes that the beloved owes no gratitude to the rival, as the praise is self-referential._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters