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- Edition: The Sonnets
The Sonnets (Modern)
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1891127
1892In the old age black was not counted fair,
1893Or if it were, it bore not beauty's name;
1894But now is black beauty's successive heir,
1895And beauty slandered with a bastard shame.
1896For since each hand hath put on nature's power,
1897Fairing the foul with art's false borrowed face,
1898Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower,
1899But is profaned, if not lives in disgrace.
1900Therefore my mistress' eyes are raven black,
1901Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem
1902At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,
1903Sland'ring creation with a false esteem.
1904 Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe,
1905 That every tongue says beauty should look so.
1906128
1907How oft when thou, my music, music play'st
1908Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds
1909With thy sweet fingers, when thou gently sway'st
1910The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,
1911Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap,
1912To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,
1913Whilst my poor lips, which should that harvest reap,
1914At the wood's boldness by thee blushing stand!
1915To be so tickled they would change their state
1916And situation with those dancing chips,
1917O'er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,
1918Making dead wood more blessed than living lips.
1919 Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,
1920 Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.
1921129
1922Th'expense of spirit in a waste of shame
1923Is lust in action; and till action, lust
1924Is perjured, murd'rous, bloody, full of blame,
1925Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust;
1926Enjoyed no sooner but despisèd straight;
1927Past reason hunted, and no sooner had,
1928Past reason hated as a swallowed bait
1929On purpose laid to make the taker mad;
1930Mad in pursuit, and in possession so;
1931Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;
1932A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe;
1933Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.
1934 All this the world well knows, yet none knows well
1935 To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.