Shall I die? by William Shakespeare in Simple English

Stanza 1: Emotional Conflict

Shall I die? Shall I fly

Lover's baits and deceits sorrow breeding?

– Should I give up (die) or escape (fly) from the emotional traps and lies of love that only bring sorrow?

Shall I tend? Shall I send?

Shall I sue, and not rue my proceeding?

– Should I care for her? Send her gifts or letters? Should I pursue her and not regret it later?

In all duty her beauty

Binds me her servant for ever.

– Out of duty and admiration, her beauty makes me her loyal servant forever.

If she scorn, I mourn,

I retire to despair, joining never.

– If she rejects me, I grieve deeply and fall into despair, avoiding others forever.

Stanza 2: Conflicting Desires

Yet I must vent my lust

And explain inward pain by my love conceiving.

– Still, I must express my deep passion and share the inner pain that loving her causes me.

If she smiles, she exiles

All my moan; if she frown, all my hopes deceiving

– A single smile from her removes all my sadness. But if she frowns, all my hopes are crushed.

Suspicious doubt, O keep out,

For thou art my tormentor.

– I beg doubt to stay away, as it only tortures me.

Fie away, pack away;

I will love, for hope bids me venture.

– Go away, all fears and doubts! I choose to love her, for hope urges me to take the risk.

Stanza 3: Hope vs. Fear

'Twere abuse to accuse

My fair love, ere I prove her affection.

– It would be wrong to accuse her of betrayal before I know how she truly feels.

Therefore try! Her reply

Gives me joy – or annoy, or affliction.

– So I will try. Her answer will either bring me joy, pain, or heartbreak.

Yet howe'er, I will bear

Her pleasure with patience, for beauty

– No matter the result, I’ll patiently accept her wishes, because her beauty deserves loyalty.

Sure will not seem to blot

Her deserts, wronging him doth her duty.

– Surely, she won’t stain her own worth by mistreating someone who loves her truly.

Stanza 4: A Dream of Love

In a dream it did seem –

But alas, dreams do pass as do shadows –

– It seemed real in a dream – but dreams vanish like shadows.

I did walk, I did talk

With my love, with my dove through fair meadows.

– In the dream, I walked and talked with my beloved through beautiful fields.

Still we passed till at last

We sat to repose us for pleasure.

– We kept walking until we finally sat down to rest and enjoy each other's company.

Being set, lips met,

Arms twined, and did bind my heart's treasure.

– While sitting, we kissed, held each other, and I felt she had my heart completely.

Stanza 5: Her Beauty

Gentle wind sport did find

Wantonly to make fly her gold tresses.

– A soft wind played with her golden hair freely.

As they shook I did look,

But her fair did impair all my senses.

– As her hair waved, I watched – but her beauty overwhelmed all my senses.

As amazed, I gazed

On more than a mortal complexion.

– I stared in amazement, thinking her beauty was beyond human.

You that love can prove

Such force in beauty's inflection.

– Anyone who has loved knows how powerful beauty can be.

Stanza 6: Describing Her Face

Next her hair, forehead fair,

Smooth and high; neat doth lie, without wrinkle,

– Below her hair is a smooth, high, unwrinkled forehead.

Her fair brows; under those,

Star-like eyes win love's prize when they twinkle.

– Her lovely eyebrows rest above eyes that sparkle like stars, winning hearts.

In her cheeks who seeks

Shall find there displayed beauty's banner;

– Whoever looks at her cheeks sees perfect beauty shining there.

O admiring desiring

Breeds, as I look still upon her.

– The more I look, the more my admiration turns into deep desire.

Stanza 7: Lips, Chin, Neck

Thin lips red, fancy's fed

With all sweets when he meets, and is granted

– Her thin red lips give sweet joy to imagination when met.

There to trade, and is made

Happy, sure, to endure still undaunted.

– To kiss those lips is like trading for happiness that lasts.

Pretty chin doth win

Of all their culled commendations;

– Her pretty chin earns the highest praise.

Fairest neck, no speck;

All her parts merit high admirations.

– Her neck is flawless, and every part of her deserves admiration.

Stanza 8: Her Perfect Body

Pretty bare, past compare,

Parts those plots which besots still asunder.

– Her exposed beauty is beyond compare, separating her from others.

It is meet naught but sweet

Should come near that so rare 'tis a wonder.

– Only pure and sweet things should touch her rare and wondrous body.

No mis-shape, no scape

Inferior to nature's perfection;

– There’s no flaw or defect – she is nature’s perfect creation.

No blot, no spot:

She's beauty's queen in election.

– No mark, no imperfection – she is the chosen queen of beauty.

Final Stanza: Reality Returns

Whilst I dreamt, I, exempt

From all care, seemed to share pleasure's plenty;

– In my dream, I was free from all worry and full of joy.

But awake, care take –

For I find to my mind pleasures scanty.

– But once awake, reality hits – and joy feels far away.

Therefore I will try

To compass my heart's chief contenting.

– So I will try to reach what my heart truly desires.

To delay, some say,

In such a cause causeth repenting.

– People say if you delay in love, you may regret it later – so I must act.

💡 Summary of the Poem

This poem tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a beautiful woman. He struggles with doubt, fear, desire, and hope. He dreams of being with her, describing her perfect beauty in great detail. But when he wakes up, he realizes it was just a dream. Still, he resolves to pursue his love rather than delay and regret later.