William Shakespeares Sonnet Two (When Forty Winters Shall Besiege Thy Brow) is the 2nd of his 154 sonnets published in 1609. This is also the Second of the “Fair Youth” sonnets, in which an unnamed man is being addressed by the speaker. In addition to that, it’s the Second of the “procreation sonnets” where he feels compelled to convince the fair youth he’s addressing to get out there and get busy with procreation. Much like sonnet one, Shakespeare is trying to essentially scare the fair youth into marrying and having children by pointing out negative aspects to perpetuating young “lusty” days. Basically, when the fair youth reaches his forties, his youthful looks will have left him and he will have to face himself and those that ask him of his life and not have a “fair child” to sum up and carry on his legacy.
Sonnet Two – When Forty Winters Shall Besiege Thy Brow
When forty winters shall besiege thy brow, And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field, Thy youth's proud livery so gazed on now, Will be a totter'd weed of small worth held: Then being asked, where all thy beauty lies, Where all the treasure of thy lusty days; To say, within thine own deep sunken eyes, Were an all-eating shame, and thriftless praise. How much more praise deserv'd thy beauty's use, If thou couldst answer 'This fair child of mine Shall sum my count, and make my old excuse,' Proving his beauty by succession thine! This were to be new made when thou art old, And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.