Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright How would. “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height/ My soul can reach” (metaphor) – The speaker attempts to quantify her love by measuring the physical space it takes up. Original Text: Modern Text: When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, For all the day they view things unrespected But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee, And, darkly bright, are bright in dark directed. The speaker’s love fills her days and keeps her going through life. When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, For all the day they view things unrespected But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee, And, darkly bright, are bright in dark directed. “By sun and candle-light” (metaphor) – The mention of sun and candle-light serves as a metaphor for the passage of time and the course of one’s life. Just as decent human beings commit good deeds without expecting praise in return, she loves purely without expectation of reward. “I love thee purely, as they turn from praise” (simile) – Using the word “as” to establish the simile, the speaker compares the pure and humble nature of her love to the humility that decent men exhibit.
Her love is as freely and spontaneously given as the dedication of men who strive to accomplish good things for humanity. “I love thee freely, as men strive for right” (simile) – Using the word “as” to establish the simile, the speaker compares the way in which she loves her husband to the way in which mankind strives to do good in the world.