Analysis of Sonnet XXIX: When Conquering Love

Michael Drayton 1563 (Hartshill) – 1631 (London)



To the Senses

When conquering Love did first my Heart assail,
Unto mine aid I summon'd every Sense,
Doubting, if that proud tyrant should prevail,
My Heart should suffer for mine Eyes' offence;
But he with Beauty first corrupted Sight,
My Hearing bribed with her tongue's harmony,
My Taste by her sweet lips drawn with delight,
My Smelling won with her breath's spicery.
But when my Touching came to play his part
(The King of Senses, greater than the rest),
He yields Love up the keys unto my Heart,
And tells the other how they should be blest.
And thus by those of whom I hop'd for aid
To cruel Love my Soul was first betray'd.


Scheme A BXBACXCXDEDEFF
Poetic Form Tetractys  (20%)
Metre 1010 11001111101 10111101001 1011110101 111101111 1111010101 1101101100 1110111101 11011011 1111011111 0111010101 1111011011 0101011111 0111111111 1101111101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 637
Words 118
Sentences 4
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 1, 14
Lines Amount 15
Letters per line (avg) 33
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 247
Words per stanza (avg) 58
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
77

Michael Drayton

Michael Drayton was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. more…

All Michael Drayton poems | Michael Drayton Books

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