Monday, March 30, 2015

poetry - weep "to have" that which it fears to lose



This thought is as a death which cannot choose
But weep to have that which it fears to lose.


Sonnet 64, Shakespeare



What is this to after weep? Is it like "I am sad to hear your father's death?"



Answer



You have parsed this correctly. An infinitive clause subordinated to a clause expressing a strong emotion usually expresses the cause of the emotion:




I am sad/saddened/distressed/sorry/dismayed  to hear of your father's death.
He was angry/angered/enraged  to find his orders had not been obeyed.
They were amazed/astonished/thunderstruck  to discover the town still thriving.
John was greatly relieved  to find his wallet where he left it.



This is also true when the head clause expresses an emotional reaction rather than a state:



I weep   to hear of your father's death.
He rejoiced  to see his enemy brought low.
The little dog laughed  to see such sport.




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