In me thou seest the twilight of such day,

Question

As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self that seals up all in rest.

—"Sonnet 73,"
William Shakespeare

Read the second quatrain of “Sonnet 73,” and then answer the questions.



What is the best paraphrase of these lines?

What is the central idea of these lines?

Answer 1

The second quatrain of “Sonnet 73” by William Shakespeare is:

Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self that seals up all in rest.

The best paraphrase of these lines is: After sunset, the darkness of night takes away the remaining light, symbolizing death and bringing peaceful rest to all.

The central idea of these lines is the imagery of the approaching night representing death and the peaceful rest that follows.