Question

Which of the following best translates the line "By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd" from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18?

a) "Randomly or by nature's unchanged path;"
b) "Through fate or nature's unaltered journey;"
c) "By accident or nature's unending route;"
d) "Through happenstance or nature's constant path;"

Answer 1

The best translation of 'By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd' from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 is 'Through happenstance or nature's constant path,' implying randomness or the natural, uncontrolled progression of life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The line 'By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd' from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 refers to the random occurrences or the natural flow of all things that are unpredictable and not maintained or controlled. The word 'untrimmed'd' suggests something that is not neatened or altered by trimming, indicative of natural processes happening without human intervention. Therefore, the best translation of this line would be option d) 'Through happenstance or nature's constant path;'