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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)

    135I0
    FOr shame deny that thou bear'st loue to any
    Who for thy selfe art so vnprouident
    Graunt if thou wilt, thou art belou'd of many,
    But that thou none lou'st is most euident:
    140For thou art so possest with murdrous hate,
    That gainst thy selfe thou stickst not to conspire,
    Seeking that beautious roofe to ruinate
    Which to repaire should be thy chiefe desire :
    O change thy thought, that I may change my minde,
    145Shall hate be fairer log'd then gentle loue?
    Be as thy presence is gracious and kind,
    Or to thy selfe at least kind harted proue,
    Make thee an other selfe for loue of me,
    That beauty still may liue in thine or thee.
    150II
    AS fast as thou shalt wane so fast thou grow'st,
    In one of thine, from that which thou departest,
    And that fresh bloud which yongly thou bestow'st,
    Thou maist call thine, when thou from youth conuertest,
    155Herein liues wisdome, beauty, and increase,
    Without this follie, age, and could decay,
    If all were minded so, the times should cease,
    And threescoore yeare would make the world away:
    Let those whom nature hath not made for store,
    160Harsh, featurelesse, and rude , barrenly perrish,
    Looke whom she best indow'd, she gaue the more;
    Which bountious guift thou shouldst in bounty cherrish,
    She caru'd thee for her seale, and ment therby,
    Thou shouldst print more, not let that coppy die.
    165I2
    WHen I doe count the clock that tels the time,
    And see the braue day sunck in hidious night,
    When I behold the violet past prime,
    And sable curls or siluer'd ore with white :
    170When lofty trees I see barren of leaues,
    Which erst from heat did canopie the herd
    And Sommers greene all girded vp in sheaues
    Borne on the beare with white and bristly beard:
    Then of thy beauty do I question make
    175That thou among the wastes of time must goe,
    Since sweets and beauties do them-selues forsake,
    And die as fast as they see others grow,
    And nothing gainst Times sieth can make defence
    Saue breed to braue him, when he takes thee hence.