The Sonnets (Modern)
Not Peer Reviewed
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¶That time of year thou mayst in me behold,
¶When yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang
¶Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
¶Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang.
1085In me thou seest the twilight of such day
¶As after sunset fadeth in the west,
¶Which by and by black night doth take away,
¶Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
¶In me thou seest the glowing of such fire
1090That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
¶As the deathbed, whereon it must expire,
¶Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
¶_This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
¶_To love that well, which thou must leave ere long.
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¶But be contented when that fell arrest
¶Without all bail shall carry me away;
¶My life hath in this line some interest,
¶Which for memorial still with thee shall stay.
1100When thou reviewest this, thou dost review
¶The very part was consecrate to thee;
¶The earth can have but earth, which is his due,
¶My spirit is thine, the better part of me;
¶So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life,
1105The prey of worms, my body being dead,
¶The coward conquest of a wretch's knife,
¶Too base of thee to be remembered.
¶_The worth of that, is that which it contains,
¶_And that is this, and this with thee remains.
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¶So are you to my thoughts as food to life,
¶Or as sweet-seasoned showers are to the ground;
¶And for the peace of you I hold such strife
¶As 'twixt a miser and his wealth is found.
1115Now proud as an enjoyer, and anon
¶Doubting the filching age will steal his treasure;
¶Now counting best to be with you alone,
¶Then bettered that the world may see my pleasure;
¶Sometime all full with feasting on your sight,
1120And by and by clean starvèd for a look,
¶Possessing or pursuing no delight
¶Save what is had, or must from you be took.
¶_Thus do I pine and surfeit day by day,
¶_Or gluttoning on all, or all away.