The Literature Of Shakespeare
I found this little thingy while I was bored and tried out SAT II Literature sample questions on the Net:
Sonnet 49: Against that time, if ever that time come
by William Shakespeare
Against that time, if ever that time come,
When I shall see thee frown on my defects,
When as thy love hath cast his utmost sum,
Called to that audit by advised respects;
Against that time when thou shalt strangely pass,
And scarcely greet me with that sun, thine eye,
When love, converted from the thing it was,
Shall reasons find of settled gravity—
Against that time do I ensconce me here
Within the knowledge of mine own desart,
And this my hand, against myself uprear,
To guard the lawful reasons on thy part.
To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws,
Since why to love I can allege no cause.
Catch no ball? It means that the author of the poem is telling a lover that he shall prevent his lover from leaving him in the case they want to break up. Simple as that.