'The Embrace' by Egon Schiele
Sonnet 105: Let not my love be called idolatry
Let not my love be called idolatry,
Nor my belovèd as an idol show,
Since all alike my songs and praises be
To one, of one, still such, and ever so.
Kind is my love today, tomorrow kind,
Still constant in a wondrous excellence;
Therefore my verse to constancy confined,
One thing expressing, leaves out difference.
"Fair, kind, and true" is all my argument,
"Fair, kind, and true" varying to other words;
And in this change is my invention spent,
Three themes in one, which wondrous scope affords.
Fair, kind, and true, have often lived alone.
Which three till now never kept seat in one.
Great words to love AND live by: Fair, kind and true:)
ReplyDeleteOh so passionate and moving, both the words and the painting!
ReplyDeleteHello Mr Cuban
ReplyDeleteI think if we all aspired to be fair, kind and true...we would do well.
(I know he means fair of countenance, but I mean equally generous and merciful)
Happy Days
Celebrating poetry with the master! Well chosen....
ReplyDeleteWell, it was the master's birthday last night and I believe that if he was around today and read your comments he would be equally happy as I am. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
I believe Natasha just upstaged you, CiL. Life is but a dream, sometimes not the one you were expecting.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts frequently dwell on what is wrong with the world, while you seem to focus on what is right about it. You are a refuge when I need to take absence from my vision of reality. Thank you.
Ah I love the sonnets so much! And although 116 is my favourite, this one is beautiful too... thanks for reminding it to us. Polly x
ReplyDeleteA sonnet that is not as often chosen as it might be, I feel - and what a splendid and very interesting choice of accompanying image! They spark off each other very well, I think. Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered if I was in the minority at uni when I said that I preferred his sonnets to his plays. I can now say that I wasn't. Thanks for your kind comments.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Hi Cuban in London, thank you for your kind visit and the best sort of poetry at the beginning. I will be back with pleasure. Best regards from near to Warsaw! :-)
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Cuban,
ReplyDeleteI've been in the company of people who have nearly come to blows (fisticuffs?) over W.S.
As a young teenager I memorized the entire soundtrack to Zefferelli's movie, Romeo & Juliet....had it on vinyl!
Thank you for your compliments. So nice to have the hard work appreciated.
There is something about your closing - Greetings from London - that just always makes me smile. I'm reminded of the time I was at Versailles and walking to the Petite Trianon and I stopped a couple to ask how far it was, and after pointing the way they said 'Bon Journee'. I thought it meant - Have a good journey - instead of good day - and thought what a lovely thing to say! So, Bon Journee to you! (Sorry about the lack of accents.)
Catherine
Mmmm, I love Shakespeare. :) Hope you've been well! Cheers!
ReplyDelete"Fair and kind and true.." Three simple words, yet they vibrate with resonance. Wonderful choice, Cuban, it was lovely to be reminded of that one.
ReplyDeleteAnd so marvelous paired with the Schiele. (((sigh)))
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to you all for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
The painting is so meaningful and the words are immortal.
ReplyDeleteThis post is a gift.
Love Renee xoxo
Hi Cuban...our paths cross again.. am just in the middle of teaching ONe Day in the Life of... one of my favourite books to teach, plus you cannot go wrong with Shakespeare... was supposed to be taking students tonight to see Othello but all schools and theatres etc have been closed down today due to the Swine flu epidemic.. DF has got to be a bit of a hassly city to live in recently with water rationing, horrific traffic jams due to too many construction projects and now this deadly epidemic where we have been asked to stay at home!! Greetings from a Mexico City under siege today!!
ReplyDeleteFair, kind and true are wonderful attributes, and to be sought after.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this.
And for you:
ReplyDelete“El ojo que ves no es
ojo porque tú lo veas;
es ojo porque te ve." -- Antonio Machado
Shakespeare encompasses it all with his unfathomable gift. He doesn't, in this poem, abandon the constancy and integrity of a lasting love..fair, kind and true..indeed,in everything! Another 3 in 1 that works!
ReplyDeleteThe Schiele is so sinewy...as if one mustn't dare to interfere.
Fair, kind and true. The words to live by... better than the golden rule... or maybe the same but stated differently. Lovely post & the artwork is beautiful indeed!
ReplyDeleteI tagged you for a meme of the moment if you are so inclined. The information is on my blog.
Greetings from Texas...
Many thanks to you all for your kind comments. And that Machado... oh well, what can I say? That Machado is sublime.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
love is a beautiful thing..
ReplyDeleteand I understand your feelings about evil.
it is used wrongfully, most likely because it is relative...but I take a stance of 'no one is evil', only their actions can be
I wouldn't want to see a day when nothing was right or wrong, unless it's a day when those two are instinctive to our survival
I fully agree with you, Rafe. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
i like your choice of this painting by Egon Schiele..so powerful...
ReplyDeleteThanks, my castle. I love that painting.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.