Rare copy of famous Shakespeare love poem found

A rare and ancient book containing a famous love poem has been discovered after many years of being hidden away. This hand-written copy of one of the most celebrated love poems in history was found by Dr Leah Veronese at the University of Oxford. The poem is William Shakespeare's Sonnet 116, and it was located within a collection of poetry from the 17th Century. The manuscript was found among the papers of Elias Ashmole, who was the founder of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Professor Emma Smith, an expert on Shakespeare at Oxford, expressed that this 'exciting discovery' will provide valuable insights into the popularity of Shakespeare's work in the years following his death. Dr Veronese discovered the sonnet in a type of manuscript known as a miscellany, which is a collection of various texts from different authors covering a range of subjects. As she was examining the manuscript, Dr Veronese noticed that the poem appeared to be an unusual version of Sonnet 116. Upon checking the catalog, which was originally compiled in the 19th Century, she found that the poem was described as 'on constancy in love,' but it did not mention Shakespeare's name. Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 is widely regarded as one of the greatest love poems ever written. In Ashmole's version, certain parts of Sonnet 116, also referred to as 'Let me not to the marriage of true minds,' have been altered, and additional lines have been included. Dr Veronese believes that the changes made to the first line and the absence of Shakespeare's name are the reasons why this poem has gone unnoticed as a copy of Sonnet 116 for so many years. The sonnet is found in the miscellany alongside other politically significant works from the 1640s, a time marked by the English Civil War, which was fought between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians. Ashmole was a staunch supporter of the monarchy, and the added lines to the sonnet could be interpreted as a call for loyalty to both religious and political authority. Researchers have stated that these additional lines could potentially transform the sonnet from a reflection on romantic love into a powerful political statement. Professor Smith noted that 'Let me not to the marriage of true minds' is now one of Shakespeare's most famous sonnets, but it did not seem to have gained much popularity during Shakespeare's own lifetime. Dr Veronese's investigation reveals that the sonnet should be understood within the context of Royalist politics, which is quite different from its modern association with weddings.