Sonnet 51
Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
travel
desire
speed
reunion
Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need.
O, what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind;
In winged speed no motion shall I know:
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;
Therefore desire of perfect'st love being made,
Shall neigh--no dull flesh--in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade;
Since from thee going he went wilful-slow,
Towards thee I'll run, and give him leave to go.
What It Means
The reverse of Sonnet 50. On the way back, Shakespeare's horse won't be fast enough. No horse can match the speed of thought. When he returns, his desire will outstrip the animal. He'll forgive his horse for being slow on the way there, because the horse was carrying him away from joy. But the horse is useless on the return — imagination travels faster than any beast.
Context
Part of the Fair Youth sequence, the companion to Sonnet 50.
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