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Marguerite
SONNET NO. 53
What is thy substance? Whereof are you made?
That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
Since every one, hath every one, one shade
A And you but one, can every shadow lend
D Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
IS Is poorly imitated after you:
ON On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set,
And you in Grecian tires are painted new:
Speak of the spring and foison of the year
The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
The other as your bounty doth appear;
And you in every blessed shape we know
In all external grace, you have some part
But you like none, none you for constant heart.
Note the repetition of certain words, we find-you, you, you,
you, you, you, you, you, you, one, one, one, one, one, shadows,
shadow, shadow.
5th Line. Counterfeit = picture.
6th Line. Poorly imitated = not so beautiful.
9th Line. Foison = abundance of harvest.
This sonnet is also addressed to Apollo-the Greek God and
patron of the art of poetry because in the 11th line of this sonnet we read "You in Grecian tires."
Note also the word "Adonis" in the 5th line and the word
Adonis spelt in the margin of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th lines.
Note also that Francis Bacon wrote "Apollo was the God of the
Sun-the eye which rolls steadily in its orbit as it gazeth on the
earth. God's first creature--light.