AS never file yet half so well yfiled,
To file a file for any smith's intent,
As I was made a filing instrument,
To frame other, while that I was beguiled :
But reason, lo, hath at my folly smiled,
And pardoned me, sins that I me repent
Of my lost years, and of my time misspent.
For youth led me, and falsehood me misguided.
Yet, this trust I have of great apparence:
Since that deceit is aye returnable,
Of very force it is agreeable,
That therewithal be done the recompense :
Then guile beguiled plained should be never ;
And the reward is little trust for ever.

AS never file yet half so well yfiled,
Modern paraphrase: No file (tool) was ever half so well filed (smoothed or refined) itself.
Explanation: The speaker begins with a metaphor comparing himself to a file—a metalworking tool used to grind down or polish surfaces. He suggests that no such tool has ever been as perfectly sharpened or worn down as he has been through his experiences. This sets up the idea of being "used" or shaped by someone else, introducing the theme of exploitation in a relationship.
To file a file for any smith's intent,
Modern paraphrase: As one that's filed to serve any smith's (blacksmith's) purpose.
Explanation: Continuing the metaphor, the speaker likens the process of filing a file (preparing the tool itself for use) to how he was prepared or manipulated for someone else's goals. The "smith" represents a craftsman (or metaphorically, a lover or deceiver) who uses the tool for their own ends, emphasizing the speaker's role as a passive instrument.
As I was made a filing instrument,
Modern paraphrase: As I was turned into a filing tool.
Explanation: Here, the speaker explicitly identifies himself as the "filing instrument" (the file). He was transformed into a tool for refining or shaping others, but this implies he was manipulated or deceived into this role. The wordplay on "filing" could also hint at "defiling" or moral corruption, suggesting the speaker was used in dishonest ways.
To frame other, while that I was beguiled :
Modern paraphrase: To shape or plot against others, while I myself was deceived.
Explanation: The speaker was used to "frame" (shape, devise, or even falsely accuse) others, all while being tricked or "beguiled" (deceived, often in a romantic context). This line reveals the irony: he was an unwitting tool in someone else's schemes, blinded by illusion or false love.
But reason, lo, hath at my folly smiled,
Modern paraphrase: But look, reason has smiled upon my foolishness.
Explanation: A turning point: "Reason" (rational thought or wisdom) now looks kindly on the speaker's past mistakes ("folly"). The exclamation "lo" (behold) signals enlightenment. This suggests the speaker has gained perspective, and reason forgives or understands his errors.
And pardoned me, sins that I me repent
Modern paraphrase: And pardoned me, since I repent.
Explanation: Reason has forgiven him because he now repents (feels sincere regret). "Sins that" is likely archaic for "since that" (because). This line emphasizes personal growth and self-forgiveness after recognizing his misguided actions.
Of my lost years, and of my time misspent.
Modern paraphrase: For my lost years and my wasted time.
Explanation: The speaker regrets the years squandered in deception and folly. This reflects on the consequences of being beguiled—time that could have been used productively was instead lost to manipulation.
For youth led me, and falsehood me misguided.
Modern paraphrase: Because youth guided me, and lies misled me.
Explanation: He attributes his errors to inexperience ("youth") and deception ("falsehood"). This excuses his past somewhat, portraying him as a victim of immaturity and external lies, likely from a deceitful lover.
Yet, this trust I have of great apparence:
Modern paraphrase: Yet, I have this belief that appears strong.
Explanation: Despite the regret, the speaker holds a firm "trust" (belief or confidence) in something. "Of great apparence" means it seems evident or apparent. This introduces the poem's resolution, shifting to a philosophical stance on deceit.
Since that deceit is aye returnable,
Modern paraphrase: Since deceit can always be repaid or returned.
Explanation: "Aye" means "always," and "returnable" implies that deception can be given back in kind (like karma or revenge). The speaker posits that deceit isn't one-sided; it can be reciprocated, providing a form of justice.
Of very force it is agreeable,
Modern paraphrase: By its very nature, it is fitting or acceptable.
Explanation: "Of very force" means by necessity or inherent logic. It's reasonable or "agreeable" that deceit should lead to some form of balancing or consequence, reinforcing the idea of natural recompense.
That therewithal be done the recompense :
Modern paraphrase: That compensation should be made with the same thing (deceit).
Explanation: "Therewithal" means with that same thing (deceit). The speaker argues it's fair for deceit to be repaid with deceit, like an eye for an eye, as a form of restitution or payback.
Then guile beguiled plained should be never ;
Modern paraphrase: Then, deceit that has been deceived in return should never be complained about.
Explanation: If guile (cunning deception) is itself "beguiled" (tricked back), there's no grounds for complaint ("plained"). This suggests a cycle of deception where no one can claim victimhood if they've dished it out.
And the reward is little trust for ever.
Modern paraphrase: And the outcome is minimal trust forever.
Explanation: The ultimate "reward" or result of such deceit is a permanent lack of trust. This cynical conclusion implies that once burned by falsehood, one learns to trust sparingly, protecting oneself from future harm.
Summary of the Whole Poem
This sonnet, attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt (a 16th-century English poet known for introducing the Italian sonnet form to England), uses the extended metaphor of a blacksmith's file to depict the speaker's experience of being manipulated in a deceptive romantic relationship. In the first quatrain (lines 1-4), the speaker describes himself as a tool sharpened and used by a deceiver to shape or harm others while he was fooled. The second quatrain (lines 5-8) marks a shift to reflection and repentance, where reason forgives his youthful folly and wasted time caused by lies. The final sestet (lines 9-14) offers a philosophical resolution: deceit can and should be reciprocated as fair recompense, eliminating grounds for complaint, but the lasting consequence is eroded trust in others. Overall, the poem explores themes of betrayal, regret, maturity, and cynicism toward love, cautioning that falsehood breeds permanent skepticism. It's a poignant commentary on how personal growth often comes at the cost of innocence and faith in human relationships.
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His "filing" of others made them attractive: He, through his attention and love, made other suitors seem more appealing. more explanation please. it is not logic
You're right to question the logic—it feels backwards and emotionally illogical. The key is that it isn't actual logic, but the warped perception of a betrayed lover. Let's break down this specific, paradoxical idea.

The Core of the Paradox: Love as a Polishing Tool
The speaker imagines himself as a "file" used by his beloved (the "smith") on other people (other "files" or "instruments").

The Normal Process: A blacksmith uses a file to sharpen a dull blade. The file's action makes the blade more attractive (shiny) and effective (sharp).

The Lover's Corrupted Reality: Here, the "blades" are other potential suitors. The speaker's love and attention (his "filing") was the force that polished them.

The Illogical Crux: The beloved used the speaker's own devotion to improve her other options. His love didn't make him more attractive to her; instead, it was the tool she used to make others more attractive.

Why This Metaphor Is So Painful
This isn't about objective reality, but the speaker's subjective, wounded interpretation:

What Happened (Likely Reality) How the Speaker Sees It (His "Folly")
The beloved was charming and attracted many suitors. She actively used the speaker as a tool in her workshop to manage her other relationships.
The speaker was one admirer among many. He was the primary instrument that gave value to all the others.
She chose others over him. She manufactured her better options by wearing him down in the process.
The deepest cut is this: He believes he didn't just lose a competition; he was the unpaid laborer who built his competitors' appeal. His love, the most valuable thing he could give, was treated not as a gift for her, but as a utility for her other suitors.

A Modern Analogy
Think of it like this:
You love someone and constantly praise them publicly. You highlight their wonderful qualities to your own friends. Then, they leave you for one of those friends. In your heartbreak, you might think: "My love and my words were the advertising campaign that made them attractive to my rival. I did the work that stole them from me."

That feeling—of being the agent of your own betrayal—is what Shakespeare captures in this knotted, industrial metaphor. The speaker isn't describing a fact, but the illogical, self-blaming, and deeply bitter narrative a heart constructs to explain its pain. The "filing" is the emotional labor he now sees as wasted and self-destructive.

It was the tool she used to make others more attractive.
the explanation is clear. but how he has made dull bored suiters more attractive to the lady.
Excellent question. This gets to the very heart of the speaker's pain. The poem doesn't give a literal step-by-step process, but it provides strong psychological clues. Let's piece together how a lover could be used as a "tool" to make rivals appealing.

The Psychological Mechanism: Social Proof and Transference
The speaker didn't give the rivals a makeover. Instead, his own high-value attention to the lady acted as a powerful social signal that elevated their rivals' status in her eyes.

Think of it through these steps:

He Validated Her Value: By being a sincere, devoted, and presumably high-quality suitor himself, he proved she was a prize worth winning. His attention was like a spotlight; wherever it shone, it created value.

He Created Competition: His visible devotion made other men notice her. His love didn't just polish them; it first made her seem more desirable, which attracted more suitors to the "contest."

She Used His Devotion as a Benchmark: The lady could then use the speaker's genuine love as a measuring stick. She could say to a new, "duller" suitor: "My current lover writes me poems and fights for my attention. What will you do?" His very existence raised the stakes and forced others to "step up their game" to compete.

He Was the Foil: In conversations with others, she might have praised or lamented his qualities, indirectly telling new suitors exactly what she wanted. ("He is so passionate, but sometimes overbearing..."). A shrewd new suitor would then present himself as passionate but gentle, perfectly crafted to outdo the speaker.

A Modern Scenario to Illustrate
Imagine a brilliant employee ("The Speaker") at a company.

He works tirelessly, innovates, and makes his manager ("The Lady") look fantastic.

His success makes the manager's department so prominent that it attracts the attention of other, lazier employees from other teams ("The Dull Suitors").

The manager then uses the brilliant employee's work as the new standard. She tells the new arrivals: "To be on my team, you need to perform at this level."

She may even assign the brilliant employee to train them or clean up their work, directly using his skill to improve theirs.

In the end, the manager promotes one of the newcomers, having used the original employee's labor as the ladder they climbed.

The heartbreak is the same: The speaker's love wasn't the destination; it was the foundation upon which others built their success with her.

What the Poem Itself Suggests
The lines just after your quote are crucial. The speaker says his sighs, tears, and deep emotions were like "coal" fed into the furnace of her vanity. His intense feelings didn't warm her heart for him; they fueled the overall "fire" of her desirability, which in turn warmed others who stood near it.

In essence: He didn't polish the rivals directly. He polished her reputation and self-image to such a high shine that it reflected glory onto anyone else she allowed near her, making them appear more attractive by association. His folly was believing his love was for her alone, when she was using its energy to power her entire social world.