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  • Title: Shake-speares Sonnets (Quarto 1, 1609)
  • Editors: Hardy M. Cook, Ian Lancashire

    • Copyright Hardy M. Cook and Ian Lancashire. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editors: Hardy M. Cook, Ian Lancashire
    Peer Reviewed

    Shake-speares Sonnets (Quarto 1, 1609)

    SHAKE-SPEARES,

    To show me worthy of their sweet respect,
    Then may I dare to boast how I doe loue thee,
    Til then, not show my head where thou maist proue me

    39027

    WEary with toyle, I hast me to my bed ,
    The deare repose for lims with trauaill tired,
    But then begins a iourny in my head
    To worke my mind, when boddies work's expired.
    395For then my thoughts(from far where I abide)
    Intend a zelous pilgrimage to thee;

    And keepe my drooping eye-lids open wide,
    Looking on darknes which the blind doe see.
    Saue that my soules imaginary sight
    400Presents their shaddoe to my sightles view,
    Which like a iewell(hunge in gastly night)
    Makes blacke night beautious, and her old face new.
    Loe thus by day my lims, by night my mind,
    For thee, and for my selfe, noe quiet finde.

    40528

    HOw can I then returne in happy plight
    That am debard the benifit of rest?

    When daies oppression is not eazd by night,
    But day by night and night by day oprest.
    410And each(though enimes to ethers raigne)

    Doe in consent shake hands to torture me,
    The one by toyle, the other to complaine
    How far I toyle, still farther off from thee.
    I tell the Day to please him thou art bright,
    415And do'st him grace when clouds doe blot the heauen:
    So flatter I the swart complexiond night,
    When sparkling stars twire not thou guil'st th' eauen.
    But day doth daily draw my sorrowes longer,

    And night doth nightly make greefes length seeme stronger

    42029

    WHen in disgrace with Fortune and mens eyes,
    I all alone beweepe my out-cast state,
    And
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