Idea: To the Reader of These Sonnets
In this poem, Drayton feels a need to justify his poetry and the various themes that can be found without. Unlike his other poems, Drayton addresses his readers directly in this verse. He explains that his poetry is a reflection of his mind, musings, and subconscious; his writings are an extension of his mind. As his mind is ever-changing and dynamic, his poems are a reflection of this change. In other words, Drayton uses this poem to justify the fact that his poems may appear to be rather scattered in their content—each one is distinct and carries its own theme.
Idea 37: Dear, why should you command me to my rest
The narrator begins the poem by addressing his “Dear.” Though this person is never described nor explained in great depth, it can be assumed that this character is the narrator’s wife or significant other. The woman is calling the narrator to bed, for darkness has fallen and it is time for him to sleep. The narrator, however, does not wish to sleep. He is fascinated by nightfall and views it as a social hour, where men and women can gather together in fellowship and revel in the darkness. As such, he is greatly agitated by the fact that humans rest at night, for his only wish is to remain outside through the evening, chatting in his social circles, and appreciating the darkness.
Idea 51: Calling to mind since first my love begun
The narrator of this poem reflects upon how deeply his love for an unnamed woman has run through his veins. He explains that, ever since he began to love this woman, she has been on his mind. The narrator describes the many significant and world-altering events he has witnessed, including the fall of Essex and the death of the Queen. Though these were historical events, the narrator explains that they paled in comparison to the memory of his love for this woman. Though the world is drastically changing, he explains, his love remains constant. In this way, this is a poem about the endurance of longing and love; despite the global changes the narrator has witnessed, his love for the unnamed woman has not faltered and will never falter.
Idea 20: An evil spirit, your beauty, haunts me still
The narrator of this poem finds himself lusting after a beautiful woman he saw one day. Though he knows he must not act upon these lustful urges, he finds that he cannot banish the thoughts from his head. As such, he likens this woman’s beauty to an evil spirit that haunts his mind and soul and has possessed him to think impure thoughts. So intense is his obsession with this woman’s beauty that the narrator is mentally and emotionally anguished by the memory of her. He is constantly provoked to act upon his impure impulses, and thus feels that the woman’s beauty must have been an evil spirit that invaded his body and soul. He begs for the sweet release of death.
