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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)

    II5
    THose lines that I before haue writ doe lie,
    Euen those that said I could not loue you deerer,
    Yet then my iudgement knew no reason why,
    1715My most full flame should afterwards burne cleerer.
    But reckening time, whose milliond accidents
    Creepe in twixt vowes, and change decrees of Kings,
    Tan sacred beautie, blunt the sharp'st intents,
    Diuert strong mindes to th'course of altring things:
    1720Alas why fearing of times tiranie,
    Might I not then say now I loue you best,
    When I was certaine ore in-certainty,
    Crowning the present, doubting of the rest:
    Loue is a Babe , then might I not say so
    1725To giue full growth to that which still doth grow.
    II9
    LEt me not to the marriage of true mindes
    Admit impediments, loue is not loue
    Which alters when it alteration findes,
    1730Or bends with the remouer to remoue.
    O no, it is an euer fixed marke
    That lookes on tempests and is neuer shaken;
    It is the star to euery wandring barke,
    Whose worths vnknowne, although his higth be taken.
    1735Lou's not Times foole, though rosie lips and cheeks
    Within his bending sickles compasse come,
    Loue alters not with his breefe houres and weekes,
    But beares it out euen to the edge of doome:
    If this be error and vpon me proued,
    1740I neuer writ, nor no man euer loued.
    II7
    ACcuse me thus, that I haue scanted all,
    Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
    Forgot vpon your dearest loue to call,
    1745Whereto al bonds do tie me day by day,
    That I haue frequent binne with vnknown mindes,
    And giuen to time your owne deare purchas'd right,
    That I haue hoysted saile to al the windes
    Which should transport me farthest from your sight.
    1750Booke both my wilfulnesse and errors downe,
    And on iust proofe surmise, accumilate,
    Bring me within the leuel of your frowne,
    But shoote not at me in your wakened hate:
    Since my appeale saies I did striue to prooue
    1755 The constancy and virtue of your loue
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