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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

    This were to be new made when thou art ould,
    And see thy blood warme when thou feel'st it could,

    303

    LOoke in thy glasse and tell the face thou vewest,
    Now is the time that face should forme an other,
    Whose fresh repaire if now thou not renewest,
    Thou doo'st beguile the world, vnblesse some mother.
    35For where is she so faire whose vn-eard wombe
    Disdaines the tillage of thy husbandry?
    Or who is he so fond will be the tombe,
    Of his selfe loue to stop posterity?
    Thou art thy mothers glasse and she in thee
    40Calls backe the louely Aprill of her prime,
    So thou through windowes of thine age shalt see,
    Dispight of wrinkles this thy goulden time.
    But if thou liue remembred not to be,
    Die single and thine Image dies with thee.

    454

    VNthrifty louelinesse why dost thou spend,
    Vpon thy selfe thy beauties legacy?
    Natures bequest giues nothing but doth lend,
    And being franck she lends to those are free:
    50Then beautious nigard why doost thou abuse,
    The bountious largesse giuen thee to giue?
    Profitles vserer why doost thou vse
    So great a summe of summes yet can'st not liue?
    For hauing traffike with thy selfe alone,
    55Thou of thy selfe thy sweet selfe dost deceaue,
    Then how when nature calls thee to be gone,
    What acceptable Audit can'st thou leaue?
    Thy vnus'd beauty must be tomb'd with thee,
    Which vsed liues th'executor to be.

    605

    THose howers that with gentle worke did frame,
    The louely gaze where euery eye doth dwell
    Will play the tirants to the very same,
    And