I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I
Did, till we loved? Were we not weaned till then?
But sucked on country pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the Seven Sleepers’ den?
’Twas so; but this, all pleasures fancies be.
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desired, and got, ’twas but a dream of thee.
And now good-morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love, all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room an everywhere.
Let sea-discoverers to new worlds have gone,
Let maps to other, worlds on worlds have shown,
Let us possess one world, each hath one, and is one.
My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemispheres,
Without sharp north, without declining west?
Whatever dies, was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die.
1. The phrase "weaned till then" compares the lovers to infants who are being weaned from their previous state of ignorance or immaturity. This conceit highlights the transition from a state of naive pleasure to a mature, awakened love.
2. The term "childishly" underscores the prior naivety and simplicity of their experiences before realizing the depth of their love.
3. The reference to the "Seven Sleepers’ den" alludes to the legendary story of seven martyrs who fell into a long sleep, representing a period of separation or unconsciousness before their awakening together, symbolizing the intensity and joy of their reunion.
4. The notion that all pleasures are "fancies be" suggests that prior experiences were mere illusions compared to the reality of their love.
5. The "dream of thee" signifies that the speaker's previous desires were mere dreams or illusions compared to the true, present love they now experience.
6. The term "waking souls" signifies the lovers' new state of awareness and fulfillment in their love, having transcended their previous ignorance.
7. The concept that love "controls" all other sights implies that true love overshadows all other desires and experiences.
8. The idea that love makes one little room an "everywhere" signifies that their love makes any place feel complete and perfect.
9. The metaphor of "better hemispheres" suggests that the lovers are complementary halves of a perfect whole, enhancing each other’s existence.
10. The mention of avoiding "sharp north" or "declining west" implies that their love is free from worldly imperfections and extremes.
11. The idea that whatever dies was not "mixed equally" suggests that true love is perfectly balanced and eternal.
12. The line "Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die" emphasizes the unity and permanence of their love, which remains steadfast and unchanging.