Do not strike down or kill the messenger with your own hands; it is not his fault, the mistake was entirely mine.
The poet evokes the dramatic classic trope of an enraged beloved ready to execute the messenger who brought an unwelcome or daring letter. With gentle remorse, the lover steps in to shield the innocent courier, insisting that the fault lies entirely in the lover's own heart and words. It beautifully balances the beloved's fierce, majestic fury with the lover's noble willingness to accept all consequences.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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