Sonnet 16: But Wherefore Do Not You A Mightier Way Comments

This seems to take its cue from the preceding sonnet, and the two together are in the form of a continuous meditation. Here the poet takes a step backwards from the declaration of promised immortality, for he has second thoughts and his verse (his pupil pen) is found to be inadequate to represent the young man as he really is, or to give a true account of his inner and outer beauty. Therefore the boy is urged once more to give himself away, in marriage, and thus to recreate himself. Lines 9-12 present difficulties of meaning which probably can never be fully resolved. shakespeares-sonnets.com/

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Such words may neither time, nor reasoning distill Writ by an Englishman, called Will