Last updated: February 6, 2021
When setting the Dedication in a grid, it's unclear where to set the final initials TT:
In our book we set TT following on immediately from the text in Row 10. However, we also observed a logical alternative being to place TT on a new row, Row 11.
Setting TT in a new row introduces two additional mappings:
In addition to a canvas shelter, Schmidt’s Shakespeare Lexicon defines Tent as both a surgical probe and as a cure:
Sonnet Pair 111-112
Booth observes that Sonnets 111-112 are a pair that evoke both human branding and the treatment/cure of that wound.
(Booth, S. Shakespeare's Sonnets, Yale, Nota Bene, 1970).
Booth comments extensively on the medical content of Sonnet 111 (means = medicines, renewed = cured, correct, correction = cure). Indeed, Sonnet 111 ends with cure me.
Sonnet 112 extends this theme to the treating (filling the wound) of a brand - presumably with a tent. Indeed, the word steeld (a major crux in the sonnets) evokes use of a sharp point to engrave.
The collective weight of these references can be seen to evoke the word Tent – as both a surgical probe and a cure.
Booth’s note on the problematic/crux Steeld in Sonnet 112 refers the reader to Steeld in Sonnet 24.
Given Sonnet 111-112's evocation of Tent (as a surgical probe), the significance of Steeld in Sonnet 112 (as a stylus for inscribing) may offer a final resolution to this crux.
The first TT in the dedication occurs in BEGETTER at cell 15. This offers a reading of the acrostic TTMAP as 15MAP or "a map of 15 columns" (as we have set out our grid).
We noted that the only instance of twenty-two in the sonnets occurs in the Sonnet pair 151-152 (which maps to this first TT in BEGETTER):
But why of two oaths breach do I accuse thee
When I break twenty ...
This observation, confirmed our theory that TT stands for 22.
This is essential to the complete solution; NEVI joins LLE to form NEVILLE via TT (i.e. count 22 cells - in blue below).
The pairing of these sonnets is evident in at least two ways: the unambiguous sexual depiction (unique to this pair); and, the reference to the blind baby Cupid "Love", 151/1 and its complement "gave eyes to blindness", 152/11.
Sonnet pair 151-152 maps to this 1st instance of TT, the initials TT and the acrostic word TILT. A Tilt is a lance - a pointed object for penetrating human flesh; as is a tent. The two and twenty oaths map precisely to TT.
The rotational synmmetry of TILT and TENT may also be noteworthy, particularly given the direction TERNIT and the "arrow" pictogram (another flesh-piercing object). We propose that this pictogram represents the Sonnets' two recurrent themes; Time and Love. This device is both a clock hand and Cupid's arrow.
Cupid opens Sonnet 151 which maps to TILT. Cupid closes Sonnet 115 which also maps to TILT. Intriguingly, Sonnet 115 may also refer to TENT (as a surgical probe):
Stephen Booth makes the following note:
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An unanswered question; as a part of his correction during 2 years in the Tower for his role in the Essex Rebellion, was Nevill branded TT or T for Traitor as was common practice?
Would this shed any light on the last two sonnets 153 and 154 which both reference Cupid's brand?
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Appendix: From Who Will Believe My Verse?
Why map the Sonnets to words that are incidental to the main message?
We propose that the code in the dedication is a secure seal; it confirms the identity of the true author. Moreover, as we would expect of the greatest artist in the world, it is itself a great work of art.
(C) Copyright 30 April 2008-2020 James Leyland and James Goding. All rights reserved.