1 Being your slave what should I do but tend, The opening assertion of enslavement
As your slave, what else should I do but wait on you? So I'm basically enslaved to you—what else am I supposed to do? enslaved to you
2 Upon the hours, and times of your desire?
On the hours and moments that suit your pleasure? Making sure I'm available whenever you happen to want me? at your command
3 I have no precious time at all to spend;
I have no time that truly belongs to me; My time isn't really mine anymore—it's all just waiting for you. no time of my own
4 Nor services to do till you require.
Nor any work to do except what you demand. I've got nothing on my plate except waiting for you to ask me for something. waiting for orders
5 Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour,
And I don't even dare complain about these endless hours, I can't even grumble about the infinite time stretching out, can't complain about forever chide: scold, complain against; world-without-end: eternal, endless.
6 Whilst I (my sovereign) watch the clock for you,
While I, my ruler, watch the clock in anticipation of you. I'm literally just staring at the time, waiting for you, my lord. watching the clock
7 Nor think the bitterness of absence sour,
Nor do I allow myself to feel the pain of your absence, I can't even admit how much it hurts when you're gone, swallowing the pain sour: bitter, harsh; think X sour: judge X as bitter.
8 When you have bid your servant once adieu.
Once you have said goodbye to your servant. The moment you say goodbye and leave. you're gone
Volta The volta shifts from describing what the speaker does (tend, spend, watch) to what he forbids himself to do: he dare not question or suppose.
9 Nor dare I question with my jealous thought,
Nor do I allow myself to wonder with suspicion, I don't even let myself think jealous thoughts about you, no jealous questions
10 Where you may be, or your affairs suppose,
About where you are or what your business might be. Like where you are or who you're with. where you are or who with
11 But like a sad slave stay and think of nought
But like a melancholy slave I remain and think of nothing So I just stay put, sad and empty-minded, sad slave thinking nothing
12 Save where you are, how happy you make those.
Except for wondering where you are, and how happy you make others. Except obsessing over where you are and how much joy you bring to everyone else. where you are, making others happy
13 So true a fool is love, that in your will, Love's paradoxical foolishness
Love is such an authentic fool that, bound up in your desires, Love makes such a perfect fool out of me—whatever you want, I just— love is a fool for you
14 (Though you do any thing) he thinks no ill.
It judges nothing as wrong, no matter what you do. I won't judge you for anything, no matter what it is. you can do anything he: love; thinks no ill: judges nothing as wrong.