Stanza 176 - Explanation

Original Stanza

But as the earth doth weep, the sun being set,
Each flower moisten'd like a melting eye;
Even so the maid with swelling drops gan wet
Her circled eyne, enforced by sympathy
Of those fair suns set in her mistress' sky,
Who in a salt-waved ocean quench their light,
Which makes the maid weep like the dewy night.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Okay, let's break down Stanza 176 of Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece line by line and then provide an overall interpretation, paying attention to literary devices.

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "But as the earth doth weep, the sun being set,"

  • Literal Meaning: Just as the earth seems to weep with dew when the sun goes down.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Personification: "Earth doth weep" gives the earth human qualities.
    • Simile: The entire line initiates a comparison ("as...")
    • Imagery: Creates a visual image of a dewy landscape at sunset.

• "Each flower moisten'd like a melting eye;"

  • Literal Meaning: Each flower is moistened with dew, resembling a weeping eye.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Simile: ("like") directly compares the dew-covered flower to a "melting eye."
    • Imagery: Extends the visual image, now focusing on individual flowers and their dewy appearance. The "melting eye" suggests sorrow and pain.

• "Even so the maid with swelling drops gan wet"

  • Literal Meaning: In the same way, the maid (Lucrece's servant) began to wet her own eyes with swelling tears. "Gan" is an archaic form of "began."
  • Literary Devices:
    • Transition: "Even so" connects the previous imagery to the maid's reaction.
    • Alliteration: "Swelling" and "swelling" could be considered an example as it creates a gentle consonance within the line, drawing attention to the abundance of tears.

• "Her circled eyne, enforced by sympathy"

  • Literal Meaning: Her round eyes, filled with tears, were caused by the sympathy she felt. "Eyne" is an archaic word for eyes.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Archaism: The use of "eyne" adds a formal and somewhat distanced tone.
    • Word Choice: "Enforced" emphasizes the involuntary nature of her tears; she cannot help but weep.

• "Of those fair suns set in her mistress' sky,"

  • Literal Meaning: This sympathy stemmed from the beautiful eyes (suns) of her mistress (Lucrece) having been dimmed by tragedy (the "sunset"). The "sky" is Lucrece's face.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Metaphor: Lucrece's eyes are compared to "fair suns," representing their beauty and radiance.
    • Metaphor: Lucrece's face is compared to "sky", emphasising the vastness of her character.
    • Euphemism: "Set" is a gentle way of referring to the loss of Lucrece's light and joy due to the rape.
    • Conceit: An extended metaphor that continues from line to line.

• "Who in a salt-waved ocean quench their light,"

  • Literal Meaning: These eyes, like suns, are now drowning in a "salt-waved ocean" of tears.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Metaphor: The tears are a "salt-waved ocean," emphasizing their vastness and bitterness.
    • Imagery: Continues the vivid visual of drowning or being extinguished.

• "Which makes the maid weep like the dewy night."

  • Literal Meaning: This situation (Lucrece's sorrow) causes the maid to weep, just as the night weeps with dew.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Simile: The maid's weeping is compared to the "dewy night," completing the circle of comparison started in the first line.
    • Personification: Continues to present nature as capable of feeling.

Overall Meaning and Interpretation:

This stanza describes the maid's reaction to Lucrece's despair, but it does so indirectly, through a series of extended comparisons to nature. The dominant image is that of a weeping world. The setting sun, dewy flowers, and dewy night all mirror the maid's sorrow.

The stanza uses the imagery of "suns" (Lucrece's eyes) being extinguished or drowned in a "salt-waved ocean" of tears to convey the intensity of Lucrece's suffering. The maid's tears are a direct result of her empathy for her mistress, demonstrating the powerful connection between them.

The use of metaphors and similes creates a sense of universal grief. Lucrece's tragedy is not just a personal one; it is reflected in the very fabric of the natural world. The maid's weeping is a natural response to the violation and the consequent dimming of Lucrece's light.

The archaic language adds a layer of formality and distance, which, paradoxically, can also heighten the sense of tragedy by giving it a timeless quality. This is a scene of profound sorrow and empathy, beautifully rendered through elaborate figurative language.