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- Edition: The Sonnets
The Sonnets (Modern)
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1846124
1847If my dear love were but the child of state
1848It might for Fortune's bastard be unfathered,
1849As subject to time's love or to time's hate,
1850Weeds among weeds, or flowers with flowers gathered.
1851No, it was builded far from accident;
1852It suffers not in smiling pomp, nor falls
1853Under the blow of thrallèd discontent,
1854Whereto th'inviting time our fashion calls:
1855It fears not policy, that heretic,
1856Which works on leases of short-numbered hours,
1857But all alone stands hugely politic,
1858That it nor grows with heat, nor drowns with showers.
1859 To this I witness call the fools of time,
1860 Which die for goodness, who have lived for crime.
1861125
1862Were't aught to me I bore the canopy,
1863With my extern the outward honoring,
1864Or laid great bases for eternity,
1865Which proves more short than waste or ruining?
1866Have I not seen dwellers on form and favor
1867Lose all, and more, by paying too much rent,
1868For compound sweet forgoing simple savor,
1869Pitiful thrivers, in their gazing spent?
1870No, let me be obsequious in thy heart,
1871And take thou my oblation, poor but free,
1872Which is not mixed with seconds, knows no art,
1873But mutual render, only me for thee.
1874 Hence, thou suborned informer, a true soul
1875 When most impeached, stands least in thy control.
1876126
1877O thou my lovely boy who in thy power
1878Dost hold time's fickle glass, his sickle hour,
1879Who hast by waning grown, and therein show'st
1880Thy lovers withering, as thy sweet self grow'st.
1881If Nature, sovereign mistress over wrack,
1882As thou goest onwards still will pluck thee back,
1883She keeps thee to this purpose, that her skill
1884May time disgrace, and wretched minutes kill.
1885Yet fear her, O thou minion of her pleasure:
1886She may detain, but not still keep, her treasure!
1887Her audit, though delayed, answered must be,
1888And her quietus is to render thee.