# XIV explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The speaker laments a night of restless sorrow after being dismissed by the Dark Lady, who bids him farewell with a smile that may be scorn or friendship, leaving him to wander in pain without reward.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

The speaker's longing and pain from the beloved's rejection.

### Truth and Deception

The ambiguity of the beloved's smile—whether scorn or friendship—reflects deception.

## Character check-ins

### Dark Lady

The speaker's beloved who dismisses him with a mocking smile.

### William Shakespeare

The speaker who suffers from unrequited love and exile.

## Key lines

> Good night, good rest. Ah, neither be my share: She bade good night that kept my rest away;

I cannot have good night or rest, because she who wished me good night is the one who stole my sleep.

_The speaker's rest is ruined by the beloved's farewell._

> And daff’d me to a cabin hang’d with care, To descant on the doubts of my decay.

She sent me to a cabin filled with worry, to dwell on my own decline.

_The speaker is left alone to brood over his fading state._

> Yet at my parting sweetly did she smile, In scorn or friendship, nill I construe whether:

Yet as I left, she smiled sweetly, and I cannot tell if it was mockery or kindness.

_The ambiguity of the beloved's smile deepens the speaker's confusion._

## Links

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