TransbliterationsShakespeare's Sonnets, rewritten

Part IV. Loving

Goodbye!

Shakespeare's Sonnet LXXXVII → Transbliterated (112)

Shakespeare

Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing,
And like enough thou know’st thy estimate,
The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;
My bonds in thee are all determinate.
For how do I hold thee but by thy granting?
And for that riches where is my deserving?
The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,
And so my patent back again is swerving.
Thyself thou gav’st, thy own worth then not knowing,
Or me to whom thou gav’st it, else mistaking;
So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,
Comes home again, on better judgement making.
    Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter,
    In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.

Transbliteration

Goodbye!
	You are too precious
		For me to possess
	You know all
		You need to know
	Your hand frees you
		From my set losses

How could I have you?
	Without your concession?
	Without risking your mercy?

You have reason to want me
	My singularity
		Displacing all that is even new
And have given yourself
	Knowing nothing of your value
	Confused about to whom you gave it to

And so it is the greatest gift
	Releasing me from belief
		So I can imagine a home
			Against better judgment
That you've given me
	Leveling the field
		Grass flowing like a dream
			The dream of a king
				Dreaming no matter what
Measured against the sonnet and its Spanish

How this poem's lines relate to Shakespeare's Sonnet LXXXVII and to the Google Translate Spanish it was written from. Counts are made by script, and each line's label comes from an AI judge. Sentences in italics are Claude's reading, not the poet's. How it was measured →

Some of this poem's lines are worked examples in the judge's rubric, so they were labeled in advance.

From the English
  • Restated
  • Inverted
  • Transbliterated
  • Original
From the Spanish
  • Faithful
  • Noise
  • Untouched

The poem opens as a near-paraphrase of the farewell and the mistaken gift, but where the sonnet finds no merit in the speaker, the poem gives the beloved reason to want him, and it ends hoping for a home against better judgment and dreaming regardless. Much of that turn comes from the Spanish: querer for wanting, bonos, carta, plano, and no importa for no such matter.

The sonnet
The speaker bids farewell to a beloved too valuable to keep, whose gift of himself was a mistake now corrected, so that the speaker only ever possessed him as in a flattering dream.
Argument kept
2 of 4
Feeling
the beloved +1 → the beloved +1 (none)
Spoken to
the beloved → the beloved
Translation
adequacy 1.8 · fluency 1.2 · chrF 44. The farewell and the idea of a gift returning are faintly visible, but the legal metaphors are misread throughout. The couplet's dream of being a king is lost.
Judge
medium confidence · reworked borrowing

lift 0.30 aligned 57% (chance 7%) order 0.82 verbatim 4% Spanish look-alikes 5% (chance 1%)left in English 0%

Sonnet LXXXVII, with its Spanish

  1. S1Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing, ¡Adiós! tú eres demasiado caro para mi poseer, adequacy 3 · fluency 2 · grammar
  2. S2And like enough thou know'st thy estimate, Y, como estimación Tú sabes lo suficiente tu: adequacy 1 · fluency 0 · wrong sense · grammar
  3. S3The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing; La carta de tu valor te da la liberación; adequacy 3 · fluency 3 · wrong sense
  4. S4My bonds in thee are all determinate. Mi bonos en ti están todas determinadas. adequacy 1 · fluency 1 · archaic misread · wrong sense · grammar
  5. S5For how do I hold thee but by thy granting? Pues ¿cómo tengo de ti sino por tu concesión? adequacy 3 · fluency 2 · grammar
  6. S6And for that riches where is my deserving? Y para que la riqueza que se merece mi? adequacy 1 · fluency 0 · wrong sense · grammar
  7. S7The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting, La causa de este don en mí justo es querer, adequacy 1 · fluency 1 · archaic misread · grammar
  8. S8And so my patent back again is swerving. Y por lo que mi patente de nuevo se está desplazando hacia. adequacy 2 · fluency 1 · wrong sense · grammar
  9. S9Thyself thou gav'st, thy own worth then not knowing, Diste a ti mismo, tu propia valía entonces no saber, adequacy 3 · fluency 2 · grammar
  10. S10Or me to whom thou gav'st it, else mistaking; O yo, a quien tú lo diste, de lo confunde; adequacy 2 · fluency 1 · grammar
  11. S11So thy great gift, upon misprision growing, Así que tu gran regalo, encubrimiento al crecer, adequacy 1 · fluency 1 · wrong sense · grammar
  12. S12Comes home again, on better judgement making. Llegar a la casa de nuevo, en hacer mejor juicio. adequacy 2 · fluency 1 · grammar
  13. S13Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter, Por lo tanto he tenido de ti, como un plano ¿Acaso el sueño, adequacy 1 · fluency 0 · wrong sense · archaic misread · grammar
  14. S14In sleep a king, but waking no such matter. En el sueño de un rey, pero despierto, no importa como. adequacy 1 · fluency 2 · wrong sense · grammar

Transbliteration

  1. P1Goodbye! S1 · modernized
  2. P2You are too precious S1 · modernized
  3. P3For me to possess S1 · modernized
  4. P4You know all S2 · transformed
  5. P5You need to know S2 · spanish-echo · via mistranslation «sabes lo suficiente» — like enough (probably) rendered as knowing enough
  6. P6Your hand frees you S3 · spanish-echo · via mistranslation «La carta» — charter rendered carta, a letter or card, hence hand
  7. P7From my set losses S4 · spanish-echo · via mistranslation «Mi bonos» — bonds rendered bonos, financial bonds; determinate → set
  8. P8How could I have you? S5 · modernized
  9. P9Without your concession? S5 · modernized · via cognate «tu concesión»
  10. P10Without risking your mercy? S6 · spanish-echo · via sound «se merece» — riches → risking; merece heard as mercy
  11. P11You have reason to want me S7 · inverted · via mistranslation «es querer» — wanting (lacking) rendered querer, to want
  12. P12My singularity no source · original
  13. P13Displacing all that is even new S8 · spanish-echo · via cognate «de nuevo se está desplazando» — desplazando → displacing; nuevo read as new
  14. P14And have given yourself S9 · verbatim
  15. P15Knowing nothing of your value S9 · modernized
  16. P16Confused about to whom you gave it to S10 · verbatim · via cognate «lo confunde»
  17. P17And so it is the greatest gift S11 · transformed
  18. P18Releasing me from belief S3,11 · transformed — misprision → belief
  19. P19So I can imagine a home S12 · transformed
  20. P20Against better judgment S12 · inverted
  21. P21That you've given me S11 · transformed
  22. P22Leveling the field T13 · spanish-echo · via mistranslation «como un plano» — flatter rendered plano, flat
  23. P23Grass flowing like a dream S13 · transformed
  24. P24The dream of a king S14 · spanish-echo · via mistranslation «En el sueño de un rey» — sueño is both sleep and dream
  25. P25Dreaming no matter what S14 · spanish-echo · via mistranslation «no importa como» — no such matter rendered no importa, regardless

Inversions

  • praise-blameS7 → P11brighter “The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting” “You have reason to want me”
  • hope-despairS12 → P20brighter “on better judgement making” “Against better judgment”

Through the Spanish

  • mistranslationT2 → P5 «sabes lo suficiente» “You need to know”
  • mistranslationT3 → P6 «La carta» “Your hand frees you”
  • mistranslationT4 → P7 «Mi bonos» “From my set losses”
  • cognateT5 → P9 «tu concesión» “Without your concession?”
  • soundT6 → P10 «se merece» “Without risking your mercy?”
  • mistranslationT7 → P11 «es querer» “You have reason to want me”
  • cognateT8 → P13 «de nuevo se está desplazando» “Displacing all that is even new”
  • cognateT10 → P16 «lo confunde» “Confused about to whom you gave it to”
  • mistranslationT13 → P22 «como un plano» “Leveling the field”
  • mistranslationT14 → P24 «En el sueño de un rey» “The dream of a king”
  • mistranslationT14 → P25 «no importa como» “Dreaming no matter what”

Where the translation failed

  • T13 “as a dream doth flatter” → «como un plano ¿Acaso el sueño» The flattering dream that sets up the couplet becomes a flat plane and a stray question.
  • T4 “My bonds in thee are all determinate.” → «Mi bonos en ti están todas determinadas.» Expired claims read as determined financial bonds, so the legal metaphor of release fails.
  • T7 “The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting” → «La causa de este don en mí justo es querer» The speaker's lack of merit becomes desire, reversing his humility.

See it in the garden →

Hear it read, and watch it turn

The reading, over an interpolation walk through this rendering's own images: each sculpture arrives on the last word of the lines it answers.

The poem, line by line

Goodbye!
	You are too precious
		For me to possess
Sculpture for: Goodbye! / You are too precious / For me to possess
How this image was made
Triggering line
Goodbye! You are too precious For me to possess
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
	You know all
		You need to know
	Your hand frees you
		From my set losses

Written, not yet carved.

How could I have you?
	Without your concession?
Sculpture for: How could I have you? / Without your concession?
How this image was made
Triggering line
How could I have you? Without your concession?
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
	Without risking your mercy?

Written, not yet carved.

You have reason to want me
	My singularity
		Displacing all that is even new
Sculpture for: You have reason to want me / My singularity / Displacing all that is even new
How this image was made
Triggering line
You have reason to want me My singularity Displacing all that is even new
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
And have given yourself
	Knowing nothing of your value
Sculpture for: And have given yourself / Knowing nothing of your value
How this image was made
Triggering line
And have given yourself Knowing nothing Of your value
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
	Confused about to whom you gave it to
Sculpture for: Confused about to whom you gave it to
How this image was made
Triggering line
Confused about to whom you gave it your value to
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
Drift
  • anchor prompt adds "your value"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
And so it is the greatest gift
	Releasing me from belief
Sculpture for: And so it is the greatest gift / Releasing me from belief
How this image was made
Triggering line
And so it is the greatest gift Releasing me from belief
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
		So I can imagine a home
			Against better judgment
Sculpture for: So I can imagine a home / Against better judgment
How this image was made
Triggering line
So I can imagine a home Against better judgment
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
That you've given me
	Leveling the field
Sculpture for: That you've given me / Leveling the field
How this image was made
Triggering line
a symbolic home That you've given me Leveling the field
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
Drift
  • substantive prompt adds "a symbolic home"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
		Grass flowing like a dream
Sculpture for: Grass flowing like a dream
How this image was made
Triggering line
abstract grass shapes flowing like dream
Seed
1311005533 · 4 steps
Run
20250423062531_1311005533
Drift
  • symbolizing prompt adds "abstract"
  • substantive prompt adds "shapes"
  • substantive prompt drops "a"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period New Objectivity Suprematism
Material bronze Carrara marble
Adjectives weird horrifying, enticing, gruesome, awe-inspiring, imaginative, warping, mind-bending, existing for a brief moment, divine
Time of day under a blue sky summer day
Adverbs infinite cardinal numbers, time-travel paradox laughingly, time seems to stand still
Image qualities sharp, flash-enabled Kodak Portra 400, unreal engine, UHD, ultra detailed, Kodak Ektar 100, OM system 12–40mm PRO, AgfaColor Neu, moody ambiance, sharp features, extreme splash animal fucked, extreme long shot, global illumination, contest winner, kodak pro gold
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden
Background mountains in the background 
			The dream of a king
				Dreaming no matter what

Written, not yet carved.

Sculptures

From line 1: “Goodbye! You are too precious For me to possess”
From line 4: “How could I have you? Without your concession?”
From line 6: “You have reason to want me My singularity Displacing all that is even new”
From line 7: “And have given yourself Knowing nothing Of your value”
From line 8: “Confused about to whom you gave it your value to”
From line 9: “And so it is the greatest gift Releasing me from belief”
From line 10: “So I can imagine a home Against better judgment”
From line 11: “a symbolic home That you've given me Leveling the field”
From line 12: “abstract grass shapes flowing like dream”