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About this text

  • 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

    Speake of my lamenesse, and I straight will halt:
    Against thy reasons making no defence.
    1325Thou canst not(loue)disgrace me halfe so ill,
    To set a forme vpon desired change,
    As ile my selfe disgrace, knowing thy wil,
    I will acquaintance strangle and looke strange:
    Be absent from thy walkes and in my tongue,
    1330Thy sweet beloued name no more shall dwell,
    Least I (too much prophane) should do it wronge:
    And haplie of our old acquaintance tell.
    For thee, against my selfe ile vow debate,
    For I must nere loue him whom thou dost hate.

    133590

    THen hate me when thou wilt, if euer, now,
    Now while the world is bent my deeds to crosse,
    Ioyne with the spight of fortune, make me bow,
    And doe not drop in for an after losse:

    1340Ah doe not, when my heart hath scapte this sorrow,
    Come in the rereward of a conquerd woe,
    Giue not a windy night a rainie morrow,
    To linger out a purposd ouer-throw.
    If thou wilt leaue me, do not leaue me last,
    1345When other pettie griefes haue done their spight,
    But in the onset come, so stall I taste
    At first the very worst of fortunes might.
    And other straines of woe, which now seeme woe,
    Compar'd with losse of thee, will not seeme so.

    13509I

    SOme glory in their birth, some in their skill,
    Some in their wealth, some in their bodies force,
    Some in their garments though new-fangled ill:
    Some in their Hawkes and Hounds, some in their Horse.
    1355And euery humor hath his adiunct pleasure,
    Wherein it findes a ioy aboue the rest,
    But these perticulers are not my measure,
    All these I better in one generall best.
    Thy