The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 25.173 Friday, 4 April 2014
[1] From: Markus Marti <
Date: April 3, 2014 at 6:40:43 PM EDT
Subject: Re: SHAKSPER: The Sonnets
[2] From: Ian Steere <
Date: April 4, 2014 at 4:04:45 AM EDT
Subject: Sonnets
[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: Markus Marti <
Date: April 3, 2014 at 6:40:43 PM EDT
Subject: Re: SHAKSPER: The Sonnets
Dear David,
I am sure you did not consult Eric Partridge’s Dictionary. “Hell” is an Elizabethan slang term for “vagina”. What this sonnet is saying is that one of the speaker’s (you should never say “the poet’s”!) friends is having some relatively indecent fun with the other!
Markus Marti
[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Ian Steere <
Date: April 4, 2014 at 4:04:45 AM EDT
Subject: Sonnets
Conscious that the detail of our exchange is probably of little interest to others, I will comment only briefly in response to David Basch’s interpretation of Sonnet 144.
Perhaps David is unaware of the poem’s bawdy, far-from-spiritual, connotations—though these would have been apparent to Shakespeare, given the mastery of the genre demonstrated rather widely in his works. If he had not meant these connotations to be recognized by his intended audience, he would have used different wording in the sonnet (and several others) to preclude unwanted misinterpretation.
David, I will respond to you no further in this thread - unless you introduce evidence which is both relevant and objective. Peace be with you.