Sonnet 37

Sonnet 37 to me expresses Sidney's utter anguish that a woman he loved married another of superior status. The woman in this sonnet has everything she could ever want in her self and in her marriage but it is these things that are her greatest trial as well. The word 'rich' here is used in the same way the world 'honorable' is used in Antony's speech in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar-with sarcasm and disdain. She is 'rich in all beauties that man's eyes can see', rich in beauty, rich in wealth, and rich in status. She is rich in all things thought to give happiness yet, she is not happy. She has no misfortune but that Rich she is. It is as though you can hear Sidney spitting the word rich everytime it is used. Because when he left by his love for another he may sit still superior on the knowledge that her riches will not bring her happiness. And isn't that what we all do? We are content to be miserable and lonely as long as the one we love is likewise. True loneliness and bitterness is not fun once the other is happy and complete. Sidney may have no idea about whether or not his lady is happy with what she has or wishing things could have gone a different way. But it brings comfort to imagine her full of regret and sorrow. To me, this sonnet is Sidney's 'here's hoping her life sucks'.