Sonnet notes 12

Sonnet 34, line 13: “those tears are pearl which thy love sheeds”

The poet has just spent 12 lines complaining. He is hurt, angry. How could the Young Man do such a thing? We’re not sure what that thing was, but it wasn’t nice and an apology alone would not be enough. Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss. He forgave the Young Man in Sonnet 33 but perhaps some new information made him angry again. By line 13, his tirade has brought the Young Man to tears. This show of emotion, of love, on the part of the Young Man has brought the poet up short. Those tears are pearl. They ransom all ill deeds. They’re not just an excuse. The Young Man really cares about him. He can’t stay angry anymore. How could he?