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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)

    I36
    IF thy soule check thee that I come so neere,
    Sweare to thy blind soule that I was thy Will,
    And will thy soule knowes is admitted there,
    2030Thus farre for loue, my loue-sute sweet fullfill.
    Will, will fulfill the treasure of thy loue,
    I fill it full with wils, and my will one,
    In things of great receit with ease we prooue.
    Among a number one is reckon'd none.
    2035Then in the number let me passe vntold,
    Though in thy stores account I one must be,
    For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold,
    That nothing me, a some-thing sweet to thee.
    Make but my name thy loue, and loue that still,
    2040 And then thou louest me for my name is Will.
    I37
    THou blinde foole loue, what doost thou to mine eyes,
    That they behold and see not what they see :
    They know what beautie is, see where it lyes,
    2045Yet what the best is, take the worst to be.
    If eyes corrupt by ouer-partiall lookes,
    Be anchord in the baye where all men ride,
    Why of eyes falsehood hast thou forged hookes,
    Whereto the iudgement of my heart is tide ?
    2050Why should my heart thinke that a seuerall plot,
    Which my heart knowes the wide worlds common place?
    Or mine eyes seeing this, say this is not
    To put faire truth vpon so foule a face,
    In things right true my heart and eyes haue erred,
    2055 And to this false plague are they now transferred.
    I38
    WHen my loue sweares that she is made of truth,
    I do beleeue her though I know she lyes,
    That she might thinke me some vntuterd youth,
    2060Vnlearned in the worlds false subtilties.
    Thus vainely thinking that she thinkes me young,
    Although she knowes my dayes are past the best,
    Simply I credit her false speaking tongue,
    On both sides thus is simple truth supprest :
    2065But wherefore sayes she not she is vniust ?
    And wherefore say not I that I am old?
    O loues best habit is in seeming trust,
    And age in loue, loues not t'haue yeares told.
    Therefore I lye with her, and she with me,
    2070 And in our faults by lyes we flattered be.
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