Sonnet 136
If thy soul cheque thee that I come so near,
desire
names
sexuality
identity
If thy soul cheque thee that I come so near,
Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy 'Will,'
And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there;
Thus far for love my love-suit, sweet, fulfil.
'Will' will fulfil the treasure of thy love,
Ay, fill it full with wills, and my will one.
In things of great receipt with ease we prove
Among a number one is reckon'd none:
Then in the number let me pass untold,
Though in thy stores' account I one must be;
For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold
That nothing me, a something sweet to thee:
Make but my name thy love, and love that still,
And then thou lovest me, for my name is 'Will.'
What It Means
More Will-puns. Shakespeare argues that if his mistress's soul objects to his closeness, tell it that Will is nothing — a tiny thing, easily overlooked. 'Among a number one is reckoned none.' He asks to be the 'nothing' that is 'something' in her will. The argument has a desperate quality beneath the wordplay.
Context
Part of the Dark Lady sequence, continuing the Will puns from Sonnet 135.
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