Sonnet 129

“Sonnet 129” is a direct warning against both the feeling of lust and the action of consummating lust. Every line in the poem focuses on the negative outcome of lust, labeling it not only an “expense” (Line 1), but also something that leads men to act “Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust” (Line 4). The speaker therefore argues that lust is filled with inherent dangers and disappointments, suggesting that it would be better to avoid it.

The speaker depicts the lustful lover as someone who is “mad” (Line 9), stressing the irrational and unrestrained nature of lust. In attributing lust to madness, the speaker depicts acting lustfully as contrary to one’s reason and self-interest. He depicts even the outcome of lust as deceitful, arguing that consummation does not bring relief to the lover, but only further pains. The lover’s lust for the beloved will quickly become “[p]ast reason hated” (Line 7, emphasis added) once consummation has been achieved, for the lover will soon realize he has merely fallen into a trap, like an animal that has “swallowed bait” (Line 7). As soon as the success of the pursuit has been “proved” (Line 11), the lover will discover that he has only gained “a very woe” (Line 11) in place of the anticipated bliss.