But do thy worst to steal thyself away,
For term of life thou art assured mine;
And life no longer than thy love will stay,
For it depends upon that love of thine.
Then need I not to fear the worst of wrongs,
When in the least of them my life hath end.
I see a better state to me belongs
Than that which on thy humour doth depend:
Thou canst not vex me with inconstant mind,
Since that my life on thy revolt doth lie.
O what a happy title do I find,
Happy to have thy love, happy to die!
     But what’s so blessed-fair that fears no blot?
     Thou mayst be false, and yet I know it not.

Analysis

In Sonnet 92, the poet claims not to care if his lover is untrue, as discovering this will kill him, ridding him of care.

Will goads his lover to go ahead and leave him, just to hurt him. He claims he will have her as long as he is alive, because his life depends on receiving her love. All the terrible things she might do to hurt him are meaningless; any hurt will kill him. He knows this is a better state than if he were dependent on affections: one false move of a wandering eye and it’ll all be over for him! What a happy position to be in: thrilled to have love, but also happy to die! But what situation is so perfectly blessed that it breeds no worries? Her unfaithfulness while Billy remains in the dark.

Will’s Wordplay

This, like many of the sonnets, is closely connected to the previously numbered poem, in the two last lines of which the poet speaks of his having only one cause of wretchedness, that he may lose his friend. In this sonnet, he seems to be over it.

Morningside Park, Manhattan

“A narrow strip that stretches 13 blocks through the neighborhoods of Harlem and Morningside Heights, Morningside Park blends dramatic landscaping with the pleasures of a community park. Built on a steep incline, multiple playgrounds nestle at the bottom of its cliff-like hillside, and visitors pause along its heights to take in a unique view. Winding paths bordered with flowers and trees lead to a cascading waterfall, across from which local teams play on its baseball fields. Parents bring their children to play in its playgrounds and learn in its after-school program, and on Saturdays local farmers sell their goods in an outdoor market.

With its convenient location in the heart of Northern Manhattan, only a few blocks from Columbia University, Riverside Park, St. Nicholas Park, the Apollo Theater, and the northern tip of Central Park, Morningside Park’s grounds make an ideal starting point for wanderings, bike rides, and walking tours.” [1]

History

“Morningside Park takes its name from the eastern side—where the sun rises in the morning—of the rugged cliff of Manhattan schist which separates Morningside Heights on the west from the Harlem Plain to the east. The area was formerly known as Muscoota to the Indians of the Harlem Plain, Vredendal (Peaceful Dale) to 17th century Dutch settlers, and Vandewater Heights after the Dutch landowner who acquired property here in 1738. On September 16, 1776, during the Revolutionary War Battle of Harlem Heights, colonial forces retreated on a road through the area. Three blockhouse fortifications were built here and put to use during the War of 1812.

In 1867 Andrew Haswell Green, Commissioner and Comptroller of Central Park, recommended that a park be located in Morningside Heights. He argued that it would be “very expensive” and “very inconvenient” to extend the Manhattan street grid over the area’s severe topography. The City of New York was granted jurisdiction over this property in 1870. Construction of Morningside Park was delayed, however, because the Board of Commissioners for Public Parks rejected the design proposals submitted by Parks Engineer-in-Chief M.A. Kellogg in 1871, and by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux (co-designers of Central and Prospect Parks) in 1873.

Architect Jacob Wrey Mould was hired to rework Olmsted and Vaux’s plans in 1880. He designed the promenade and buttressed masonry wall that encloses the park along Morningside Drive. The 30 foot-wide walkway was constructed as a series of esplanades, linked by steps, with semi-octagonal bays providing visitors with places to rest and to enjoy the view. Although a construction contract was awarded in 1883, Mould died in 1886 before the work was completed.

Fourteen years after their original proposal was rejected, landscape architects Olmsted and Vaux were hired in 1887 to continue improvements to Morningside Park. They enhanced the park’s natural elements by planting vegetation tolerant of the dry, rocky environment. Two paths—one broad, one meandering—traversed the lower portion of the park. Retained as a consultant, Vaux saw the work to completion in 1895, the year he drowned in Gravesend Bay. Parks Superintendent Samuel Parsons Jr. wrote of Vaux’s work, “. . .perhaps Morningside Park was the most consummate piece of art that he had ever created.”

The park’s design continued to evolve in the 20th century. Monuments installed in and around the park included Lafayette and Washington (1900) by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the Carl Schurz Memorial (1913) by Karl Bitter and Henry Bacon, and the Seligman (Bear and Faun) Fountain (1914) by Edgar Walter. Between the 1930s and the 1950s playgrounds, basketball courts, and softball diamonds were constructed in the east and south parts of Morningside Park.

In 1968 student and community protests halted construction of a large gymnasium in the park intended for the use of Columbia University and the public. The excavated foundation crater was converted into an ornamental pond and waterfall in 1989-90 as part of a $5 million capital reconstruction of the park from 110th to 114th Streets. The project also included installing new play equipment, creating a picnic area, planting new trees, and rebuilding the ballfields.” [2]

References

1. http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/morningside-park
2. http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/morningside-park/history

ACTOR – Jeff Hathcoat

Jeff Hathcoat was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga, graduated from Boston University’s School of Theatre, and has been living and working in NYC since 2011. He is proud to be working with NYSX once again, as they were part of his first ever performance in New York City! He is currently working on a production of Othello for Allentown Shakespeare in the Park as Roderigo. Jeff is also a proud member of the Mercury Glass Theatre Company with which he has done three Shakespeare productions: Merry Wives of Windsor (Nym), Romeo & Juliet (Sampson), Measure for Measure (Pompey). He will be playing Lightborn in their production of Edward II by Marlowe in the Fall.
jeffhathcoat.com

DIRECTOR – Brandon Herman

Brandon Herman is a filmmaker and photographer based in NYC. Having graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in FIlm and Television Production, he has gone on to work in the industry for almost 20 years. Brandon has made short films, music videos, web series, and documentaries. He is also working hard to launch a website for and about geeky women, called FangirlTV.com.