Shakespeare Side by Side
“our case will either stand or fall”as readers are convinced that De Vere’s poetry does in fact contain the natural seed and clear promise” of Shakespeare’s verse —“1
This is the poem that Looney found in the metre of Venus and Adonis. The fragment on the right may be far from Shakespeare’s best but it is from Venus and Adonis so the two poems share the same metre and it touches on similar themes.
Instead of listening to our opinions, we invite you to spend 30 minutes reading I A Richards Introduction to Practical Criticism created for Cambridge University, then return and see if you can connect these two poems. The poem that begins Richards’ course is written by an aristocrat who fell out of favour with an earlier court, Sir Thomas Wyatt. How does that compare with Oxford’s work?
Given that the poets are similar ages, do lines from one poem really fit in the other? Can you find a place for Oxford’s “The lofty Love thy sacred sails advance” or “What worldly wight can hope for heavenly hire” in Shakespeare’s work? Are the sentiments in each poem real or does one feel acutely personal while the other seems detached and insincere? Does one seem more creative with language than the other?
If we look at the last verse of each, Shakespeare is dancing on the sands, no footing seen, love a spirit all compact of fire. Oxford is asking lofty Love to advance his sacred sails, promising that his sighing seas shall flow with streams of tears, disdain steering doleful chance away from deadly dangers. Who is creating the stronger impressions on your inward eye? Which poet is more creative, more original in their expression?
Advocate for Oxford (or Shakespeare) in the comments below.
Oxford aged around 26.
If care or skill could conquer vain desire,
Or Reason’s reins my strong affection stay:
There should my sighs to quiet breast retire,
And shun such signs as secret thoughts betray;
Uncomely Love which now lurks in my breast
Should cease, my grief Wisdom’s power oppress’d.
But who can leave to look on Venus’ face,
Or yieldeth not to Juno’s high estate ?
What wit so wise as gives not Pallas place ?
These virtues rare ech (sic) Gods did yield a mate;
Save her alone, who yet on earth doth reign,
Whose beauty’s string no God can well distraint[e].
What worldly wight can hope for heavenly hire,
When only sighs must make his secret moan ?
A silent suit doth seld to grace aspire,
My hapless hay doth roll the restless stone.
Yet Phoebe fair disdained the heavens above,
To joy on earth her poor Endymion’s love.
Rare is reward where none can justly crave,
For chance is choice where Reason makes no claim;
Yet luck sometimes despairing souls doth save,
A happy star made Giges joy attain.
A slavish smith, of rude and rascal race,
Found means in time to gain a Godess’ grace.
Then lofty Love thy sacred sails advance,
My sighing seas shall flow with streams of tears;
Amidst disdains drive forth thy doleful chance,
A valiant mind no deadly danger fears;
Who loves aloft and sets his heart on high
Deserves no pain, though he do pine and die.
The Paradise of Dainty Devices, 1576
Shakespeare at 28
Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine;
Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red.
The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine.
What seest thou in the ground? Hold up thy head.
Look in mine eyeballs; there thy beauty lies.
Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes?
Art thou ashamed to kiss? Then wink again,
And I will wink; so shall the day seem night.
Love keeps his revels where there are but twain;
Be bold to play, our sport is not in sight.
These blue-veined violets whereon we lean
Never can blab, nor know not what we mean.
The tender spring upon thy tempting lip
Shows thee unripe, yet mayst thou well be tasted.
Make use of time, let not advantage slip;
Beauty within itself should not be wasted.
Fair flowers that are not gathered in their prime
Rot and consume themselves in little time.
Were I hard-favored, foul, or wrinkled old,
Ill-nurtured, crookèd, churlish, harsh in voice,
O’erworn, despisèd, rheumatic, and cold,
Thick-sighted, barren, lean, and lacking juice,
Then mightst thou pause, for then I were not for thee,
But having no defects, why dost abhor me
Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear,
Or like a fairy trip upon the green,
Or like a nymph, with long disheveled hair,
Dance on the sands, and yet no footing seen.
Love is a spirit all compact of fire,
Not gross to sink, but light, and will aspire.
Venus and Adonis 1593