A rare handwritten copy of one of William Shakespeare’s most famous love poems has been uncovered after lying hidden for centuries. The version of Sonnet 116, widely known for its timeless exploration of true love, was discovered by Dr Leah Veronese, a researcher at the University of Oxford, in a 17th-century poetry collection. The manuscript was found among the papers of Elias Ashmole, the founder of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, in a significant discovery that has excited scholars and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike.
Sonnet 116, with its iconic opening line “Let me not to the marriage of true minds,” is one of Shakespeare’s best-known poems, celebrated for its depiction of love as unchanging and eternal. However, this particular version, which was found in a miscellany – a manuscript that contains a collection of texts by various authors on different subjects – appears to be a slightly altered and previously unknown variant of the famous sonnet.
The manuscript was discovered at the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe and home to a vast collection of historical texts. Dr Veronese came across the version of the sonnet while examining a miscellany of works that had been compiled in the 17th century. “As I was leafing through the manuscript, the poem struck me as an odd version of Sonnet 116,” Dr Veronese explained.
Upon further inspection, Dr Veronese realised that although the poem was listed in the catalogue as “on constancy in love,” a title which accurately reflects the theme of the sonnet, it did not mention Shakespeare’s name. This omission led Dr Veronese to investigate further, and she soon realised that this was an altered version of Sonnet 116, rather than a simple copy of the famous work.
The version found in Ashmole’s miscellany contains several significant changes. Parts of the original sonnet have been altered, and additional lines have been added. Dr Veronese speculated that the absence of Shakespeare’s name and the changes to the first line were the main reasons this version of the sonnet had gone unnoticed for so long.
The poem’s alterations are not just small textual variations. In fact, the added lines could shift the meaning of the sonnet dramatically. Researchers have suggested that the changes might have been intended to turn the poem’s meditation on romantic love into a powerful political statement, potentially aligning it with the religious and political loyalties of the time. This context becomes particularly significant when considering the period in which the poem was compiled: the 1640s, during the English Civil War, a time of intense political division between the Royalists, who supported King Charles I, and the Parliamentarians, who opposed the monarchy.
Elias Ashmole, a prominent figure in the 17th century and a staunch supporter of the monarchy, may have altered the sonnet’s message to reflect his own political views. The added lines could be seen as a subtle appeal to the Royalist cause, transforming the original romantic meaning into a reflection of loyalty to the crown and the religious authority of the monarchy.
Professor Emma Smith, a renowned Shakespeare scholar at Oxford, described the discovery as “exciting” and highlighted its potential to deepen our understanding of Shakespeare’s popularity and influence in the years following his death. She explained that Sonnet 116, while now one of Shakespeare’s most beloved and widely quoted works, was not particularly famous during Shakespeare’s lifetime. “What Dr Veronese shows in her investigation of this new version is that the sonnet being understood in the context of Royalist politics – a long way from its role in modern weddings,” she said.
The discovery sheds new light on how Shakespeare’s works were received and interpreted in the centuries following his death. While Shakespeare’s poetry was widely circulated during the 17th century, it was often subject to alteration and recontextualisation by later generations. This new version of Sonnet 116 reveals how the sonnet, often associated with love and commitment, could have been reimagined to serve the political and religious climate of the time.
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The manuscript will likely provide scholars with new insights into the ways in which literature and politics were intertwined during the English Civil War. By adding lines that could be read as politically charged, Ashmole may have sought to align one of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets with the prevailing Royalist sentiment, reflecting the turbulent political landscape of 17th-century England.
The discovery is also an important reminder of how much of Shakespeare’s legacy remains unexplored. Despite being one of the most famous and studied writers in history, new insights into his works continue to surface, revealing the layers of complexity and reinterpretation that have shaped his reputation across the centuries.
As the manuscript is studied further, experts hope to uncover more about its origins and the ways in which it reflects the political and cultural climate of 17th-century England. In the meantime, this rare find offers an exciting glimpse into the lasting impact of Shakespeare’s works and how they continue to resonate with readers, scholars, and even political figures, centuries after they were first written.
This newly discovered version of Sonnet 116 will no doubt add a fascinating chapter to the story of Shakespeare’s enduring legacy.
