Jacob joins me for our penultimate sonnet in this series of 4! As well as deconstructing Sonnet 102, we discuss distressing story of Philomel and her importance to Shakespeare.

Sonnet 102

My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming;
I love not less, though less the show appear;
That love is merchandized whose rich esteeming
The owner's tongue doth publish everywhere.
Our love was new, and then but in the spring
When I was wont to greet it with my lays;
As Philomel in summer's front doth sing,
And stops her pipe in growth of riper days:
Not that the summer is less pleasant now
Than when her mournful hymns did hush the night,
But that wild music burthens every bough
And sweets grown common lose their dear delight.
Therefore like her, I sometime hold my tongue,
Because I would not dull you with my song.

The AI Generation of The Fair Youth: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1meE-QvZMGa_dIeZR_0fxngX-1EOY1bCs/view?usp=sharing

Jacob Fortune-Lloyd joins me again to explore Sonnet 101. It's a dense one so strap in!

Sonnet 101

O truant Muse what shall be thy amends
For thy neglect of truth in beauty dyed?
Both truth and beauty on my love depends;
So dost thou too, and therein dignified.
Make answer Muse: wilt thou not haply say,
'Truth needs no colour, with his colour fixed;
Beauty no pencil, beauty's truth to lay;
But best is best, if never intermixed'?
Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?
Excuse not silence so, for't lies in thee
To make him much outlive a gilded tomb
And to be praised of ages yet to be.
Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee how
To make him seem, long hence, as he shows now.

We've hit 100 and to celebrate I am joined by friend of the podcast and esteemed actor Jacob Fortune-Lloyd for the next 4 sonnets! You might have seen him in The Queens Gambit, Bodies or Midas Man. You might even have seen him at the RSC if you like your Shakespeare!

I've attached the link to our AI generated Shakespeare, enjoy!