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Suns of the world may stain when heaven's sun staineth.

Posted by Word Camel on February 01, 2002

"Suns of the world may stain when heaven's sun staineth." is the last line from Shakespear's sonnet 33.
I think I understand the rest of the poem, on a superficial level at least, but this last line confuses me. I'm not sure what he means. Is it a pun?
please lend me your good minds.

Thanks,
C

I'm putting the rest of the poem below for reference.

Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy;
Anon permit the basest clouds to ride
With ugly rack on his celestial face,
And from the forlorn world his visage hide,
Stealing unseen to west with this disgrace:
Even so my sun one early morn did shine
With all triumphant splendor on my brow;
But out, alack! he was but one hour mine;
The region cloud hath mask'd him from me now.
Yet him for this my love no whit disdaineth;
Suns of the world may stain when heaven's sun staineth.

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