1 If there be nothing new, but that which is,
If nothing is new except what already exists, If nothing's really new—everything's already been done— nothing's new
2 Hath been before, how are our brains beguiled,
Has happened before, how are our minds deceived, Then how do we fool ourselves into thinking we're discovering something new? minds tricked by illusion beguiled: deceived, tricked.
3 Which labouring for invention bear amiss
We who labor to discover something original, miss the mark, All our efforts to invent something fresh just fail, invention fails labouring for invention: working to discover something new; bear amiss: go wrong, fail.
4 The second burthen of a former child!
And only produce a second, weary copy of something already born! We just end up with a tired echo of something that already exists. just a copy burthen: burden; former child: something already born into the world.
5 O that record could with a backward look,
O that history could look backward in time If only the historical record could go back history looking back record: written history, documentation.
6 Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
Even five hundred years back, Even five centuries ago, five hundred years courses of the sun: years (a poetic way of measuring time).
7 Show me your image in some antique book,
Show me your likeness in some ancient text, And find you described in an old book somewhere, your image in ancient texts
8 Since mind at first in character was done.
Since the moment human thought was first recorded. Since humans first started writing things down. since writing began character: written letter or symbol; since mind...was done: since consciousness began to be recorded.
Volta The volta shifts from the philosophical premise (nothing is new) to specific desire: 'That I might see what the old world could say / To this composed wonder of your frame.'
9 That I might see what the old world could say,
So that I might see what ancient times would say So I could know what the ancients would have made of you, what the ancients would say
10 To this composed wonder of your frame,
About this perfect marvel of your form, About the sheer perfection of your beauty. your perfect beauty composed wonder: perfectly fashioned marvel; frame: body, form.
11 Whether we are mended, or whether better they,
Whether our age is improved, or if the ancients were superior, Whether we've gotten better than they were, or if they were better. are we better than them mended: improved, corrected.
12 Or whether revolution be the same.
Or if everything just cycles back to where it started. Or if it all just goes in circles, same as always. everything repeats revolution: cyclical return; same: identical.
13 O sure I am the wits of former days,
O I am certain that the wise ones of old I'm sure the brilliant minds of the past ancient wise ones wits: intelligent people, writers.
14 To subjects worse have given admiring praise. Ancient peoples would praise you above all others
Have given their admiring praise to far less beautiful subjects. Have written glowing praise for people way less beautiful than you. praised lesser people worse: of less beauty or quality.