Notes for Shakespeare's Sonnet 53


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Shakespeare's
Sonnet
53

2. tend: attend.

3. shade: shadow.

4. And you, but one, can every shadow lend: i.e., and you, though but one person, can lend substance to every shadow. —The kind of shadows that the poet has in mind are seen in the next lines, in which he portrays the famous male and female beauties of mythology, Adonis and Helen, as mere shadows of his beloved.

5. Adonis: in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire.   counterfeit: portrait (in words).

6. Is poorly imitated after you: i.e., is a poor attempt to portray you.

7. Helen: in Greek mythology, the daughter of Zeus and Leda—a paragon of beauty.

8. tires: attires.

9. foison: season of plenty; harvest.

11. bounty: generosity, capacity to give [love]; benevolence.