Sonnet 138

    When my love swears that she is made of truth

    Often cited as one of the most psychologically honest poems in the sequence — love based on mutual deception, described with clear eyes.

    lies
    self-deception
    desire
    pragmatism
    When my love swears that she is made of truth
     
    I do believe her, though I know she lies,
     
    That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
     
    Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.
     
    Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
     
    Although she knows my days are past the best,
     
    Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:
     
    On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd.
     
    But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
     
    And wherefore say not I that I am old?
     
    O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
     
    And age in love loves not to have years told:
     
    Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
     
    And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be.

    What It Means

    Two people lying to each other who both know the other is lying, and both choose to continue. His mistress claims to be faithful. Shakespeare pretends to believe her, even though he knows better. She pretends he's young; he's not. They have a deal: mutual flattery, mutual silence, mutual deception. The final couplet makes it explicit — they lie in each other's arms, but also lie to each other. Shakespeare doesn't seem to mind. There is something pragmatic and even affectionate about the arrangement: both parties understand the game.

    Context

    Part of the Dark Lady sequence. The poem's psychological honesty about the dynamics of an imperfect relationship is unusually modern-feeling. Published in the 1609 quarto.

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