Stanza 175 - Explanation

Original Stanza

Her mistress she doth give demure good-morrow,
With soft-slow tongue, true mark of modesty,
And sorts a sad look to her lady's sorrow,
For why her face wore sorrow's livery;
But durst not ask of her audaciously
Why her two suns were cloud-eclipsed so,
Nor why her fair cheeks over-wash'd with woe.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Okay, let's break down Stanza 175 from Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece line by line and then discuss the overall meaning and literary devices.

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "Her mistress she doth give demure good-morrow,"

  • Her mistress: Refers to Lucrece, the lady of the house.
  • she doth give: The servant woman performs an action
  • demure good-morrow: "Demure" means modest, reserved, and respectful. "Good-morrow" is simply "good morning."
  • Meaning: The servant politely and respectfully greets Lucrece.

• "With soft-slow tongue, true mark of modesty,"

  • soft-slow tongue: Suggests a gentle, quiet way of speaking. The servant is speaking slowly and quietly, as a sign of deference and respect.
  • true mark of modesty: This highlights the servant's humility and proper demeanor. Her speech is described as a true sign, or indication, of modesty.
  • Meaning: The servant speaks in a quiet and respectful manner, demonstrating her modest nature.

• "And sorts a sad look to her lady's sorrow,"

  • sorts: Here, it means to arrange, adapt, or match.
  • sad look: A sorrowful, mournful expression.
  • to her lady's sorrow: In accordance with, or reflecting, Lucrece's obvious sadness.
  • Meaning: The servant arranges her facial expression to reflect the sorrow she sees in Lucrece's face, mirroring her mistress's mood.

• "For why her face wore sorrow's livery;"

  • For why: An archaic way of saying "because" or "since."
  • her face wore sorrow's livery: "Livery" refers to a uniform or distinctive clothing, often worn by servants or members of a particular group. Here, it's used metaphorically. Lucrece's face is wearing sorrow like a garment.
  • Meaning: Because Lucrece's face was clearly displaying sorrow, like one who wears the colors or garments of their master.

• "But durst not ask of her audaciously"

  • durst not ask: The servant dared not ask.
  • of her audaciously: Boldly, impudently, or disrespectfully of Lucrece.
  • Meaning: The servant didn't dare to ask Lucrece any bold or intrusive questions.

• "Why her two suns were cloud-eclipsed so,"

  • her two suns: A metaphor referring to Lucrece's eyes, radiant and bright like the sun.
  • cloud-eclipsed: Hidden or darkened by clouds (in this case, sadness).
  • Meaning: The servant wouldn't dare ask why Lucrece's eyes (her "suns") were so dimmed by sadness.

• "Nor why her fair cheeks over-wash'd with woe."

  • fair cheeks: Lucrece's beautiful cheeks.
  • over-wash'd with woe: Soaked or covered with sorrow, suggesting tears.
  • Meaning: Nor would she ask why her fair cheeks were so drenched with tears and sadness.

Overall Meaning:

The stanza paints a picture of a servant observing Lucrece in deep distress. The servant is polite, respectful, and aware of Lucrece's sorrow. She expresses her empathy by mirroring Lucrece's sadness, but she remains mindful of her place and refrains from intruding with direct or probing questions. The stanza emphasizes the rigid social hierarchy of the time and the expected behavior of servants towards their superiors. It also highlights the profound sadness that Lucrece is experiencing, a sadness so overwhelming that it is immediately apparent to those around her. The servant is a passive observer, respectful and concerned, but ultimately powerless to help.

Literary Devices:

• Metaphor: The most prominent device is the metaphor of Lucrece's eyes as "two suns." This emphasizes her beauty and the brilliance that has now been dimmed by sorrow. "sorrow's livery" is also a metaphor.
• Imagery: The stanza is rich in visual imagery. We can picture the servant's demure greeting, Lucrece's sorrowful face, and her tear-stained cheeks. The image of the "cloud-eclipsed" suns is particularly vivid.
• Alliteration: The phrase "soft-slow tongue" uses alliteration to emphasize the gentleness of the servant's speech.
• Archaic Language: The use of phrases like "doth give," "good-morrow," and "for why" contributes to the formal and somewhat distant tone of the poem.
• Personification could be seen in "sorrow's livery" giving sorrow the human trait of being able to wear clothes.

In summary, this stanza is a carefully crafted portrait of a mistress's sorrow and a servant's cautious observation, rich in imagery and figures of speech that contribute to the overall tragic atmosphere of The Rape of Lucrece.