TransbliterationsShakespeare's Sonnets, rewritten

Part V. Rebelling

Good is Made Better by Evil, Love is Made Stronger by Loss

Shakespeare's Sonnet CXIX → Transbliterated (144)

Shakespeare

What potions have I drunk of Siren tears,
Distill’d from limbecks foul as hell within,
Applying fears to hopes, and hopes to fears,
Still losing when I saw myself to win!
What wretched errors hath my heart committed,
Whilst it hath thought itself so blessed never!
How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted,
In the distraction of this madding fever!
O benefit of ill! now I find true
That better is, by evil still made better;
And ruin’d love, when it is built anew,
Grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater.
    So I return rebuk’d to my content,
    And gain by ill thrice more than I have spent.

Transbliteration

The Sirens' tears are the potion I drink
	A distilled lambic that burns my throat

The hopes I feared
	And the fears I could only hope for
Are all lost
	When I see what I've gained

	Intrigued by the errors of my miserable heart
	Thinking it’s never been blessed
My LGN is ill-equipped to receive these views
	Flitting madly
		Good for nothing
	But certain
		That good is made better by evil
		And love is made stronger by loss
			Each new first moment
				Growing three times
					Greater
					Faster
					Happier
				Than the last
Measured against the sonnet and its Spanish

How this poem's lines relate to Shakespeare's Sonnet CXIX 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 →

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

The poem largely restates the sonnet's argument that evil improves good and loss strengthens love, modernizing its images (a lambic, the LGN) and multiplying each renewal. The Spanish contributed 'intrigued' from entregado, 'ill-equipped', 'certain' and the 'first moment'.

The sonnet
After the fevered errors of a false passion, the speaker finds that evil makes good better and that ruined love rebuilt grows stronger, so he returns to his love having gained by his fault.
Argument kept
3 of 4
Feeling
the speaker's love +1 → love +1 (none)
Spoken to
narrative, the speaker to himself → narrative
Translation
adequacy 2.4 · fluency 1.4 · chrF 56. The potions, the fever and the idea that ruined love rebuilt grows stronger all survive. The couplet's hard-won contentment is lost.
Judge
medium confidence · close paraphrase

lift 0.40 aligned 64% (chance 13%) order 0.91 verbatim 0% Spanish look-alikes 6% (chance 1%)left in English 2%

Sonnet CXIX, with its Spanish

  1. S1What potions have I drunk of Siren tears, Lo que he bebido pociones de lágrimas Sirena, adequacy 3 · fluency 1 · grammar
  2. S2Distill'd from limbecks foul as hell within, Distill'd de limbecks sucio como el infierno en el interior, adequacy 2 · fluency 1 · untranslated · grammar
  3. S3Applying fears to hopes, and hopes to fears, La aplicación de los temores a las esperanzas y espera a los temores, adequacy 3 · fluency 2 · wrong sense · grammar
  4. S4Still losing when I saw myself to win! Aún perdiendo cuando me vi de ganar! adequacy 3 · fluency 2 · grammar
  5. S5What wretched errors hath my heart committed, ¿Qué errores ha miserable corazón entregado, adequacy 2 · fluency 1 · wrong sense · omission · grammar
  6. S6Whilst it hath thought itself so blessed never! Si bien el pensamiento mismo ha bendecido para que nunca! adequacy 1 · fluency 0 · wrong sense · grammar
  7. S7How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted, ¿Cómo han mis ojos fuera de sus esferas sido equipados adequacy 2 · fluency 1 · archaic misread · grammar
  8. S8In the distraction of this madding fever! En la distracción de esta fiebre enloquecida! adequacy 4 · fluency 3
  9. S9O benefit of ill! now I find true O beneficio de los malos! Ahora me parece cierto adequacy 2 · fluency 2 · wrong sense · grammar
  10. S10That better is, by evil still made better; Que mejor es por el mal todavía se hacen mejor; adequacy 3 · fluency 1 · grammar
  11. S11And ruin'd love, when it is built anew, Y el amor ¿Hundida, cuando se construye de nuevo, adequacy 3 · fluency 1 · grammar
  12. S12Grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater. Crece más justo que en un primer momento, más fuerte, mucho mayor. adequacy 3 · fluency 3 · wrong sense
  13. S13So I return rebuk'd to my content, Así que vuelvo a mi reprendió a los contenidos adequacy 1 · fluency 0 · archaic misread · grammar
  14. S14And gain by ill thrice more than I have spent. Y ganar tres veces más de los malos que he pasado. adequacy 1 · fluency 1 · wrong sense · grammar

Transbliteration

  1. P1The Sirens' tears are the potion I drink S1 · verbatim
  2. P2A distilled lambic that burns my throat S2 · spanish-echo · via untranslated «Distill'd de limbecks» — limbecks heard as lambic
  3. P3The hopes I feared S3 · modernized
  4. P4And the fears I could only hope for S3 · modernized
  5. P5Are all lost S4 · modernized
  6. P6When I see what I've gained S4 · modernized
  7. P7Intrigued by the errors of my miserable heart S5 · spanish-echo · via sound «errores ha miserable corazón entregado» — entregado heard as intrigued; miserable moved onto heart
  8. P8Thinking it's never been blessed S6 · inverted · via mistranslation «ha bendecido para que nunca» — never so blessed read as never blessed
  9. P9My LGN is ill-equipped to receive these views S7 · spanish-echo · via cognate «sido equipados» — eyes become the visual nucleus; equipados as equipped
  10. P10Flitting madly S7,8 · sound-echo
  11. P11Good for nothing S9 · inverted — benefit becomes good for nothing
  12. P12But certain S9 · modernized · via cognate «me parece cierto» — cierto as certain
  13. P13That good is made better by evil S10 · verbatim
  14. P14And love is made stronger by loss S11,12 · modernized
  15. P15Each new first moment S11,12 · spanish-echo · via cognate «en un primer momento» — at first read literally as a first moment
  16. P16Growing three times S12,14 · transformed
  17. P17Greater S12 · modernized
  18. P18Faster S12 · sound-echo
  19. P19Happier S13 · transformed — content as contentment
  20. P20Than the last S12 · transformed — compared with the previous, not the original

Inversions

  • hope-despairS6 → P8darker “thought itself so blessed never” “Thinking it's never been blessed”
  • praise-blameS9 → P11darker “O benefit of ill!” “Good for nothing”

Through the Spanish

  • untranslatedT2 → P2 «Distill'd de limbecks» “A distilled lambic that burns my throat”
  • soundT5 → P7 «errores ha miserable corazón entregado» “Intrigued by the errors of my miserable heart”
  • mistranslationT6 → P8 «ha bendecido para que nunca» “Thinking it's never been blessed”
  • cognateT7 → P9 «sido equipados» “My LGN is ill-equipped to receive these views”
  • cognateT9 → P12 «me parece cierto» “But certain”
  • cognateT12 → P15 «en un primer momento» “Each new first moment”

Where the translation failed

  • T13 “So I return rebuk'd to my content” → «Así que vuelvo a mi reprendió a los contenidos» The chastened return to contentment becomes a return to 'contents' with a stray past tense.
  • T14 “thrice more than I have spent” → «tres veces más de los malos que he pasado» The paradox of profit from ill becomes something about bad people passed through.
  • T6 “Whilst it hath thought itself so blessed never!” → «Si bien el pensamiento mismo ha bendecido para que nunca!» The heart's self-deception about its happiness is unreadable.

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

The Sirens' tears are the potion I drink
Sculpture for: The Sirens' tears are the potion I drink
How this image was made
Triggering line
The Sirens' virtual tears Are the potion I drink
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
Drift
  • symbolizing prompt adds "virtual"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
	A distilled lambic that burns my throat
Sculpture for: A distilled lambic that burns my throat
How this image was made
Triggering line
A distilled lambic siren virtual tears That burns my throat
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
Drift
  • substantive prompt adds "siren virtual tears"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
The hopes I feared
	And the fears I could only hope for

Written, not yet carved.

Are all lost
	When I see what I've gained
Sculpture for: Are all lost / When I see what I've gained
How this image was made
Triggering line
hopes fears Are all lost When I see what I've gained
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
Drift
  • anchor prompt adds "hopes fears"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
	Intrigued by the errors of my miserable heart
	Thinking it’s never been blessed
Sculpture for: Intrigued by the errors of my miserable heart / Thinking it’s never been blessed
How this image was made
Triggering line
Intrigued By the errors of my miserable virtual heart Thinking It’s never been blessed
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
Drift
  • symbolizing prompt adds "virtual"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
My LGN is ill-equipped to receive these views
	Flitting madly
		Good for nothing
Sculpture for: My LGN is ill-equipped to receive these views / Flitting madly / Good for nothing
How this image was made
Triggering line
My LGN is ill-equipped to receive these views Flitting madly Good for nothing
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
	But certain
		That good is made better by evil
Sculpture for: But certain / That good is made better by evil
How this image was made
Triggering line
But certain That good is made better by evil
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
		And love is made stronger by loss
Sculpture for: And love is made stronger by loss
How this image was made
Triggering line
And certain love is made stronger by loss
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
Drift
  • anchor prompt adds "certain"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
			Each new first moment
				Growing three times
Sculpture for: Each new first moment / Growing three times
How this image was made
Triggering line
love Each new first moment Growing three times
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
Drift
  • anchor prompt adds "love"
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden 
					Greater
					Faster
					Happier
				Than the last
Sculpture for: Greater / Faster / Happier / Than the last
How this image was made
Triggering line
love Growing Greater Faster Happier Than the last time
Seed
842541918 · 4 steps
Run
20250429051126_842541918
CLIP the short prompt T5 the long prompt
Art period pointillism Socialist
Material polystyrene marble
Adjectives beauteous, déjà vu wretched, candid
Background Inhotim Museum Lauterbrunnen
Adverbs Defying gravity with gossamer grace, dwells within humanity, Jones polynomial, anomalous diffusion amidst the ruins, classic model, fit together perfectly, grim reminder, effortlessly interpenetrating forms, celebrating the renaissance, heart-rending scene
Image qualities layered art, Etherwave Kodak film, perfect composition, detailed, long shot, pentax 645n, extreme splash animal fucked, OM system 12–40mm PRO, Kodak Gold 200, jagged edges, splotches spreading, glossy, exquisite textures, beautiful gradient, extreme long shot
Shape sculpture garden sculpture garden

Sculptures

From line 1: “The Sirens' virtual tears Are the potion I drink”
From line 2: “A distilled lambic siren virtual tears That burns my throat”
From line 4: “hopes fears Are all lost When I see what I've gained”
From line 5: “Intrigued By the errors of my miserable virtual heart Thinking It’s never been blessed”
From line 6: “My LGN is ill-equipped to receive these views Flitting madly Good for nothing”
From line 7: “But certain That good is made better by evil”
From line 8: “And certain love is made stronger by loss”
From line 9: “love Each new first moment Growing three times”
From line 10: “love Growing Greater Faster Happier Than the last time”