Within Thine Eyes.

By Charles Sangster

Sonnet
    Within thine eyes two spirits dwell,     The sweetest and the purest     That ever wove Love's mystic spell,     Or plied his arts the surest:             No smile of morn,             Though heaven-born,     Nor sunshine earthward straying,             E'er charmed the sight             With half the light     That round thy lips is playing.     The stars may shine, the moon may smile,     The earth in beauty languish,     Life's sorrows these can but beguile,     But thou canst heal its anguish.             Thy voice, like rills             Of silver, trills     Such sounds of liquid sweetness,             Each accent rolls             Along our souls,     In lyrical completeness.     If Friendship lend thee such a grace,     That men nor gods may slight it,     How blest the one who views thy face     When Love comes down to light it!             And, oh, if he             Who holds in fee     Thy beauty, truth, and reason,             A traitor prove             To thee and Love,     We'll spurn him for his treason.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem celebrates the transformative power of a beloved's beauty and grace, elevating them above natural wonders and divine gifts. Structured as a single stanza of thirty lines with a blend of iambic tetrameter and pentameter, the verse flows with a rhythmic grace that mirrors the beloved's enchanting presence. The poem opens with an idealized portrayal of the beloved's eyes and lips, comparing their luminosity to celestial and terrestrial beauty, yet surpassing both. The middle section shifts to the beloved's voice, likened to babbling brooks, whose melodic tones bring solace and completeness to the soul. A volta arrives in the final lines, where the speaker warns against betrayal, suggesting the beloved's virtues are so sacred that any treachery would be an act of profound disloyalty. The poem's imagery of light, sound, and nature underscores the beloved's divine qualities, culminating in a solemn vow to reject any who would violate such sacred bonds. The poem’s insistence on the beloved's unparalleled perfection hints at an almost religious reverence for love, framing it as both a spiritual and emotional salvation.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.