Can someone help me understand what this poem means. Especially why he says she swears she is MADE of truth and not that she speaks the truth.

When my love swears that she is made of truth,

I do believe her though I know she lies,

That she might think me some untutored youth,

Unlearnèd in the world's false subtleties.

Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,

Although she knows my days are past the best,

Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue:

On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed.

But wherefore says she not she is unjust?

And wherefore say not I that I am old?

O love's best habit is in seeming trust,

And age in love loves not to have years told.

Therefore I lie with her, and she with me,

And in our faults by lies we flattered be.

V.i.m, go here:

[www.shakespeares-sonnets.com]


Les

hey ok well i just read this poem so here we go...
look at the puns on lie... double meaning.. to lie as in not tell the truth and to lie as in to lie in bed... and umm yea the general meaning is relating to the dark lady and how they lie and play their game but all is ok as they lie together haha.. and the made of truth thing .. i think it's a bad translation.. i think it means the same thing so there ya go peace

I think 'made of truth' is Shakespeare's way of saying- This woman claims to be utterly and completely honest. Similar to the saying 'there's not a lying bone in her body.'

pam

i want poetry of love for william shekespeare

"made of truth" is an homophone of "maid of truth" = > this is a pun on the firs word. It gives an ambiguous message: she is truthful and virgin

And the next line as well,

>I do believe her though I know she lies

Pun on lies? Lie down vs telling lies?

>And in our faults by lies we flattered be

Pun on we lie flat?

this poem sucks