Shakespeare's Sonnets

For here's a paper written in his hand,
A halting sonnet of his own pure brain.
Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

In 1609, 154 love poems — all but three of them sonnets — appeared in a small volume titled SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS, along with the claim "Never before Imprinted." The book was dedicated to "Mr. W. H." as the "the only begetter" of the ensuing poems.

Taken together, the Sonnets hint at an impassioned three-way relationship between a poet-narrator whose name is Will, a beautiful golden youth, and a dangerous dark-haired lady.

·Most of the poems (1-126) seem to be addressed to the Fair Youth, and the first 17 sonnets beg him to conceive an heir.
·The later poems (127-154) seem to concern the Dark Lady.
·Two sonnets — 135 and 136 — play on the name "Will".