His Life and Genius 173 



Then follows the ingenious conceit to explain 

 why that is so — 



O cunning love, with tears thou keep'st me blind 

 Lest eyes well-seeing thy foul faults should find. 



Could there be plainer proof of the skilful use 

 made of woes for the artistic construction and 

 embellishment of an effective sonnet ? Through- 

 out he is able composedly to analyze and reflect 

 on his grief, to consider its psychological bearings, 

 curiously to perceive to what poetical uses it lent 

 itself ; all the while keeping quiet possession of 

 himself, nowise so fatuously possessed by his 

 passion as he protests he is. With whatever 

 illusions unreasoning admiration veil its vision, 

 Shakspeare himself cherished no illusions con- 

 cerning the deceit and guilt of his equivocal situa- 

 tion. He frankly confesses that he was forsworn, 

 that his sin was sinful loving, but strenuously 

 maintains that it was not for her to reproach him 

 who was herself tw r ice forsworn, had sealed false 

 bonds of love and shamelessly robbed others' 

 beds of their dues. A comfortable discharge of 

 bad humour, no doubt, this dolorous recrimina- 

 tion, for it was the subtle trick of a soothing self- 

 excuse ; not that he, knowing the woman, could 

 expect that she would in the least mind it ; in no 

 case can reproof by playfellow in the sinful plea- 

 sure have much moral weight ; as fellowship in 

 woe assuages woe, so fellowship in sin blunts 

 sense of guilt. 



The characteristic arts of the unfaithful mis- 



