Shakespeare's Sonnet XVII - Doubt
Excerpt from Sonnet XVII

If I could write the beauty of your eyes
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies:
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.'

What does "touches" mean here? Was Shakespeare referring to her countenance or something like that?

Question

Shakespeare's Sonnet XVII - Doubt
Excerpt from Sonnet XVII

If I could write the beauty of your eyes
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies:
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.'

What does "touches" mean here? Was Shakespeare referring to her countenance or something like that?

Answer

jennison,

He is talking about both her eyes and her graces.

touch  noun = distinguishing trait, characteristic or quality. Definition 18a Oxford
touch  verb  =  to relate to

The age to come would say 'This poet lies:
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.

Such heavenly qualities were never related to earthly faces.