Song Meaning
This sonnet lays bare the brutal, self-destructive cycle of lust. It opens with a stark declaration: the true cost of lust isn't just the act itself, but the immense "expense of spirit in a waste of shame." The narrator immediately paints lust as inherently corrupt, describing it as "perjur'd, murderous, bloody, full of blame," a litany of destructive impulses that define its very nature. This isn't a gentle yearning; it's a savage, extreme force.
The central tension lies in the immediate reversal of pleasure and pain. The moment lust is "enjoy'd," it's instantly "despised." The pursuit is "past reason," a frantic chase for something that, once attained, becomes a source of hatred. The imagery of a "swallow'd bait" perfectly captures this, a trap designed not for sustenance but to drive the victim to madness. This isn't about satisfaction; it's about being consumed and then reviled by the very thing desired.
The sonnet's brilliance lies in its relentless cataloging of this paradox. The narrator details the extreme nature of both the pursuit and the possession: "Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme." What is proposed as "a joy" before the act turns into "a very woe" and ultimately "a dream" after. This cyclical, self-defeating pattern is presented as a universal truth, something "the world well knows."
Yet, the final lines reveal the tragic irony. Despite this widespread knowledge of lust's destructive path, leading only to "this hell," humanity remains incapable of avoiding it. The narrator concludes that while everyone understands the destination, no one truly knows how to "shun the heaven that leads men to this hell," highlighting a profound, almost willful ignorance in the face of self-inflicted suffering.
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