The Final Couplet

Sonnet 147 ft. Elliot Ditton

I'm joined this week by the brilliant Actor, Writer & Drag Artist Elliot Ditton AKA Fruit 'n Fibre. We had a lot of fun diving into this bleak sonnet - stick around for Elliot's incredible re-write at the end! Sonnet 147 My love is as a fever, longing still For that which longer nurseth the disease, Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill, Th’ uncertain sickly appetite to please. My reason, the physician to my love, Angry that his prescriptions are not kept, Hath left me, and I desperate now approve Desire is death, which physic did except. Past cure I am, now reason is past care, And frantic-mad with evermore unrest; My thoughts and my discourse as madmen’s are, At random from the truth vainly expressed:     For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright,     Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 146 ft. Florence Roberts

I'm joined this week by the brilliant actress and writer Florence Roberts. You might have seen her recently at the RSC in the Forsyte Saga or on PBS in Miss Scarlet and the Duke. Florence is also a brilliant poet! [https://www.instagram.com/fl_oetry/?hl=en] Had a lot of fun deconstructing this bleak sonnet - hope you enjoy listening to it. Sonnet 146 Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth, [......] these rebel powers that thee array, Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth, Painting thy outward walls so costly gay? Why so large cost, having so short a lease, Dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend? Shall worms, inheritors of this excess, Eat up thy charge? Is this thy body's end? Then soul, live thou upon thy servant's loss And let that pine to aggravate thy store; Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross; Within be fed, without be rich no more. So shalt thou feed on Death, that feeds on men, And, Death once dead, there's no more dying then.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 145

This is one of Shakespeare's weirder ones but I have to say it rolled off the tongue nicely! Sonnet 145 Those lips that Love’s own hand did make Breathed forth the sound that said “I hate” To me that languished for her sake; But when she saw my woeful state, Straight in her heart did mercy come, Chiding that tongue that ever sweet Was used in giving gentle doom, And taught it thus anew to greet: “I hate” she altered with an end That followed it as gentle day Doth follow night, who, like a fiend, From heaven to hell is flown away.    “I hate” from hate away she threw,    And saved my life, saying “not you.”

Shakespeare's Sonnet 144

The Fair Youth x Dark Lady colab we have all been waiting for! Sonnet 144 Two loves I have, of comfort and despair, Which like two spirits do suggest me still. The better angel is a man right fair, The worser spirit a woman colored ill. To win me soon to hell my female evil Tempteth my better angel from my side, And would corrupt my saint to be a devil, Wooing his purity with her foul pride. And whether that my angel be turned fiend Suspect I may, yet not directly tell; But being both from me, both to each friend, I guess one angel in another’s hell.  Yet this shall I ne’er know, but live in doubt,  Till my bad angel fire my good one out.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 143 ft. Joe Eyre

My guest the week is the wickedly talented Actor, Writer and Voice Artist Joe Eyre. I had great fun recording this episode with Joe and debunking this ridiculous sonnet, stick around for his brilliant story at the end. Sonnet 143 Lo, as a careful huswife runs to catch One of her feathered creatures broke away, Sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatch In pursuit of the thing she would have stay, Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase, Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent To follow that which flies before her face, Not prizing her poor infant’s discontent; So runn’st thou after that which flies from thee, Whilst I, thy babe, chase thee afar behind. But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me And play the mother’s part: kiss me, be kind.  So will I pray that thou mayst have thy will,  If thou turn back and my loud crying still.