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Marguerite
SONNET NO. 52
So am I, as the rich, whose blessed key,
Can bring him to his sweet up locked treasure,
The which he will not every hour survey,
For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure,
Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare,
Since seldom coming in the long year set,
Like stones of worth-they thinly placed are,
Or captain jewels in the carcanet,
So is the time that keeps you as my chest,
Or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide,
To make some special instant special blest,
By new unfolding, his imprison'd pride.
Blessed are you, whose worthiness gives scope,
Being had to triumph-being lacked to hope.
Here, Bacon tells Marguerite that he is like a miser with a key to unlock his treasure which he does not look at often blunting (lest it should blunt) make dull the pleasureof looking on his riches. He considers that this pleasure is like feasts (the four festivals of the year) which are thinly placed like captain
(principal) jewels in a carcanet (a necklace of jewels). He compares this to the time which keeps safely (like things in a chest or wardrobe hidden)his imprisoned pride in her. Tells her that she is blessed because her goodnessis so great that he can take delight in her presence and in her absence hope for her
return.
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