Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage
Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit,
To thee I send this written embassage,
To witness duty, not to show my wit:
Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine
May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it,
But that I hope some good conceit of thine
In thy soul‘s thought, all naked, will bestow it:
Till whatsoever star that guides my moving,
Points on me graciously with fair aspect,
And puts apparel on my tatter‘d loving,
To show me worthy of thy sweet respect:
Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee;
Till then, not show my head where thou mayst prove me.
The explanation of sonnet 26:
Oh dear lord, the depth of my affection for you knows no bounds. Your worthiness has bound me to you in such a way that I cannot help but express my unwavering loyalty. This message is not meant to showcase any linguistic prowess, but rather to bear witness to the profound duty I feel towards you. My humble words may not do justice to the enormity of this duty, but I hold onto the hope that your discerning mind will perceive the sincerity of my sentiments.
As I navigate through the uncertain journey of life, I fervently wish for the guiding star to shine favorably upon me, adorning my love for you with the qualities that befit its true essence. Only then will I feel deserving of your esteemed regard. When that time comes, I shall proudly proclaim the depth of my love for you, but until then, I shall remain humble and await the opportunity to prove myself to you.
