Shakespeare’s Sonnet #25: “Let those who are in favor with their stars”

Sonnet 25

Let those who are in favor with their stars
Of public honor and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,
Unlooked for joy in that I honour most.
Great princes’ favorites their fair leaves spread
But as the marigold at the sun’s eye,
And in themselves their pride lies burièd,
For at a frown they in their glory die.
The painful warrior famousèd for worth,
After a thousand victories once foiled,
Is from the book of honor razèd quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toiled.
Then happy I, that love and am beloved
Where I may not remove nor be removed.

Simplified Modern English Translation

Let those who are in favor with their stars
Let those who find themselves in favorable circumstances

Of public honor and proud titles boast,
brag about their fancy titles and public honors,

Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,
while I, who have been barred from such triumphs,

Unlooked for joy in that I honour most.
quietly and anonymously find joy in doing what I love most.

Great princes’ favorites their fair leaves spread
Those favored luminaries at court bask in their greatness

But as the marigold at the sun’s eye,
only as long as the Prince looks favorably on them.

And in themselves their pride lies burièd,
Their greatness does not emanate from within, 

For at a frown they in their glory die.
and displeasure by the Prince at any moment could condemn them.

The painful warrior famousèd for worth,
The hardened warrior famous for his battles

After a thousand victories once foiled,
after a thousand successful campaigns, once he suffers a single defeat

Is from the book of honor razèd quite,
is removed forever from the book of honor

And all the rest forgot for which he toiled.
and everything else forgotten for which he so valiantly toiled.

Then happy I, that love and am beloved
Therefore I find my own circumstances happier. I both love and am beloved (in these sonnets),

Where I may not remove nor be removed.
and neither my love nor your love can ever be removed.

Reading of Sonnet 25

The images in the YouTube video are from an original 1609 edition of Shake-speares Sonnets held by the British Library.  It is one of only thirteen copies in existence.  Images courtesy of the Octavo Corporation.  

Text from Original 1609 Quarto

Transcription courtesy of University of Virginia Library:

Let those who are in fauor with their stars,
Of publike honour and proud titles bost,
Whilst I whome fortune of such tryumph bars
Vnlookt for ioy in that I honour most;
Great Princes fauorites their faire leaues spread,
But as the Marygold at the suns eye,
And in them-selues their pride lies buried,
For at a frowne they in their glory die.
The painefull warrier famosed for worth,
After a thousand victories once foild,
Is from the booke of honour rased quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toild:
Then happy I that loue and am beloued
Where I may not remoue, nor be remoued.