Sonnet 86 by William Shakespeare 

Thedmo: Thanks for your comment and interest. I am not a Shakespearean scholar, so I hesitate to say too much about the meaning and setting of the sonnets--so many more educated and knowledgeable people have disagreed over these points. I only know what I have read from the research of others. My comments are likely going to be contested. However, on this sonnet, I am pretty sure that the references to another poet are to the great Christopher Marlowe. Evidently, Marlowe has made overtures to Shakespeare's patron, the beautiful young man, and written poetry in his honor. The poets of the day often depended on wealthy patrons to subsidize their incomes. To lose his patron would be more than an emotional loss for Shakespeare. Shakespeare was only in his thirties and early forties when he wrote the sonnets. He was only "old" in comparison to the fair young man and his dark lady, both of whom were well above him in station. Marlowe claimed to have the assistance of a "familiar" spirit who guided him in his poetry and writings. This daemon is whom Shakespeare refers to as the "affable ghost" who "nightly gulls him with intelligence." Shakespeare is "not sick of any fear from thence." Marlowe's spiritual aides don't impress him. He is sure of his own abilities. He claims that he was only at a loss for words to compete with Marlowe because his patron had turned his attention away from him, and therefore his patron's "countenance filled up" Marlowe's lines. It was the loss of the young man's affection and interest he says, that "enfeebled mine."