lovrary
William Shakespeare
Sonnets
Sonnet 1: From Fairest Creatures We Desire Increase
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
From fairest creatures we desire increase, That thereby beauty’s rose might never die, But as the riper should by time decease,
Sonnet 2: When Forty Winters Shall Besiege Thy Brow
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When forty winters shall besiege thy brow, And dig deep trenches in thy beauty’s field, Thy youth’s proud livery so gazed on now,
Sonnet 3: Look In Thy Glass And Tell The Face Thou Viewest
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest Now is the time that face should form another; Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest,
Sonnet 4: Unthrifty Loveliness, Why Dost Thou Spend
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend Upon thyself thy beauty’s legacy? Nature’s bequest gives nothing, but doth lend,
Sonnet 5: Those Hours, That With Gentle Work Did Frame
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Those hours, that with gentle work did frame The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell, Will play the tyrants to the very same
Sonnet 6: Then Let Not Winter’s Ragged Hand Deface
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Then let not winter’s ragged hand deface, In thee thy summer, ere thou be distill’d: Make sweet some vial; treasure thou some place
Sonnet 7: Lo! In The Orient When The Gracious Light
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Lo! in the orient when the gracious light Lifts up his burning head, each under eye Doth homage to his new-appearing sight,
Sonnet 8: Music To Hear, Why Hear’st Thou Music Sadly?
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Music to hear, why hear’st thou music sadly? Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy: Why lov’st thou that which thou receiv’st not gladly,
Sonnet 9: Is It For Fear To Wet A Widow’s Eye
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye, That thou consum’st thyself in single life? Ah! if thou issueless shalt hap to die,
Sonnet 10: For Shame! Deny That Thou Bear’st Love To Any
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
For shame! deny that thou bear’st love to any, Who for thyself art so unprovident. Grant, if thou wilt, thou art belov’d of many,
Sonnet 11: As Fast As Thou Shalt Wane, So Fast Thou Grow’st
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow’st, In one of thine, from that which thou departest; And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow’st,
Sonnet 12: When I Do Count The Clock That Tells The Time
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; When I behold the violet past prime,
Sonnet 13: O! That You Were Your Self; But, Love You Are
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! that you were your self; but, love you are No longer yours, than you yourself here live: Against this coming end you should prepare,
Sonnet 14: Not From The Stars Do I My Judgement Pluck
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy, But not to tell of good or evil luck,
Sonnet 15: When I Consider Everything That Grows
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When I consider everything that grows Holds in perfection but a little moment, That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
Sonnet 16: But Wherefore Do Not You A Mightier Way
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
But wherefore do not you a mightier way Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time? And fortify yourself in your decay
Sonnet 17: Who Will Believe My Verse In Time To Come
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Who will believe my verse in time to come, If it were fill’d with your most high deserts? Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb
Sonnet 18: Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day?
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, Blunt Thou The Lion’s Paws
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion’s paws, And make the earth devour her own sweet brood; Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger’s jaws,
Sonnet 20: A Woman’s Face With Nature’s Own Hand Painted
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted, Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion; A woman’s gentle heart, but not acquainted
Sonnet 21: So Is It Not With Me As With That Muse
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
So is it not with me as with that Muse, Stirr’d by a painted beauty to his verse, Who heaven itself for ornament doth use
Sonnet 22: My Glass Shall Not Persuade Me I Am Old
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
My glass shall not persuade me I am old, So long as youth and thou are of one date; But when in thee time’s furrows I behold,
Sonnet 23: As An Unperfect Actor On The Stage
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
As an unperfect actor on the stage, Who with his fear is put beside his part, Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Sonnet 24: Mine Eye Hath Play’d The Painter And Hath Stell’d
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Mine eye hath play’d the painter and hath stell’d, Thy beauty’s form in table of my heart; My body is the frame wherein ’tis held,
Sonnet 25: Let Those Who Are In Favour With Their Stars
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Let those who are in favour with their stars Of public honour and proud titles boast, Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars
Sonnet 26: Lord Of My Love, To Whom In Vassalage
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit, To thee I send this written embassage,
Sonnet 27: Weary With Toil, I Haste Me To My Bed
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed, The dear respose for limbs with travel tir’d; But then begins a journey in my head
Sonnet 28: How Can I Then Return In Happy Plight
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
How can I then return in happy plight, That am debarre’d the benefit of rest? When day’s oppression is not eas’d by night,
Sonnet 29: When In Disgrace With Fortune And Men’s Eyes
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
Sonnet 30: When To The Sessions Of Sweet Silent Thought
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
Sonnet 31: Thy Bosom Is Endeared With All Hearts
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thy bosom is endeared with all hearts, Which I by lacking have supposed dead; And there reigns Love, and all Love’s loving parts,
Sonnet 32: If Thou Survive My Well-contented Day
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
If thou survive my well-contented day, When that churl Death my bones with dust shall cover And shalt by fortune once more re-survey
Sonnet 33: Full Many A Glorious Morning Have I Seen
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Full many a glorious morning have I seen Flatter the mountain tops with sovereign eye, Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Sonnet 34: Why Didst Thou Promise Such A Beauteous Day
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day, And make me travel forth without my cloak, To let base clouds o’ertake me in my way,
Sonnet 35: No More Be Griev’d At That Which Thou Hast Done
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
No more be griev’d at that which thou hast done: Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud: Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,
Sonnet 36: Let Me Confess That We Two Must Be Twain
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Let me confess that we two must be twain, Although our undivided loves are one: So shall those blots that do with me remain,
Sonnet 37: As A Decrepit Father Takes Delight
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
As a decrepit father takes delight To see his active child do deeds of youth, So I, made lame by Fortune’s dearest spite,
Sonnet 38: How Can My Muse Want Subject To Invent
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
How can my Muse want subject to invent, While thou dost breathe, that pour’st into my verse Thine own sweet argument, too excellent
Sonnet 39: O! How Thy Worth With Manners May I Sing
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! how thy worth with manners may I sing, When thou art all the better part of me? What can mine own praise to mine own self bring?
Sonnet 40: Take All My Loves, My Love, Yea Take Them All
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Take all my loves, my love, yea take them all; What hast thou then more than thou hadst before? No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call;
Sonnet 41: Those Pretty Wrongs That Liberty Commits
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Those pretty wrongs that liberty commits, When I am sometime absent from thy heart, Thy beauty, and thy years full well befits,
Sonnet 42: That Thou Hast Her It Is Not All My Grief
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
That thou hast her it is not all my grief, And yet it may be said I loved her dearly; That she hath thee is of my wailing chief,
Sonnet 43: When Most I Wink, Then Do Mine Eyes Best See
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, For all the day they view things unrespected; But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
Sonnet 44: If The Dull Substance Of My Flesh Were Thought
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
If the dull substance of my flesh were thought, Injurious distance should not stop my way; For then despite of space I would be brought,
Sonnet 45: The Other Two, Slight Air, And Purging Fire
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
The other two, slight air, and purging fire Are both with thee, wherever I abide; The first my thought, the other my desire,
Sonnet 46: Mine Eye And Heart Are At A Mortal War
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war, How to divide the conquest of thy sight; Mine eye my heart thy picture’s sight would bar,
Sonnet 47: Betwixt Mine Eye And Heart A League Is Took
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took, And each doth good turns now unto the other: When that mine eye is famish’d for a look,
Sonnet 48: How Careful Was I When I Took My Way
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
How careful was I when I took my way, Each trifle under truest bars to thrust, That to my use it might unused stay
Sonnet 49: Against That Time, If Ever That Time Come
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Against that time, if ever that time come, When I shall see thee frown on my defects, When as thy love hath cast his utmost sum,
Sonnet 50: How Heavy Do I Journey On The Way
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
How heavy do I journey on the way, When what I seek, my weary travel’s end, Doth teach that ease and that repose to say,
Sonnet 51: Thus Can My Love Excuse The Slow Offence
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thus can my love excuse the slow offence Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed: From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Sonnet 52: So Am I As The Rich, Whose Blessed Key
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
So am I as the rich, whose blessed key, Can bring him to his sweet up-locked treasure, The which he will not every hour survey,
Sonnet 53: What Is Your Substance, Whereof Are You Made
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
What is your substance, whereof are you made, That millions of strange shadows on you tend? Since every one, hath every one, one shade,
Sonnet 54: O! How Much More Doth Beauty Beauteous Seem
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem By that sweet ornament which truth doth give. The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
Sonnet 55: Not Marble, Nor The Gilded Monuments
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme; But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Sonnet 56: Sweet Love, Renew Thy Force; Be It Not Said
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Sweet love, renew thy force; be it not said Thy edge should blunter be than appetite, Which but to-day by feeding is allay’d,
Sonnet 57: Being Your Slave What Should I Do But Tend
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Being your slave what should I do but tend, Upon the hours, and times of your desire? I have no precious time at all to spend;
Sonnet 58: That God Forbid, That Made Me First Your Slave
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
That god forbid, that made me first your slave, I should in thought control your times of pleasure, Or at your hand the account of hours to crave,
Sonnet 59: If There Be Nothing New, But That Which Is
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
If there be nothing new, but that which is Hath been before, how are our brains beguil’d, Which labouring for invention bear amiss
Sonnet 60: Like As The Waves Make Towards The Pebbled Shore
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end; Each changing place with that which goes before,
Sonnet 61: Is It Thy Will, Thy Image Should Keep Open
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Is it thy will, thy image should keep open My heavy eyelids to the weary night? Dost thou desire my slumbers should be broken,
Sonnet 62: Sin Of Self-love Possesseth All Mine Eye
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Sin of self-love possesseth all mine eye And all my soul, and all my every part; And for this sin there is no remedy,
Sonnet 63: Against My Love Shall Be As I Am Now
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Against my love shall be as I am now, With Time’s injurious hand crush’d and o’erworn; When hours have drain’d his blood and fill’d his brow
Sonnet 64: When I Have Seen By Time’s Fell Hand Defac’d
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When I have seen by Time’s fell hand defac’d The rich-proud cost of outworn buried age; When sometime lofty towers I see down-raz’d,
Sonnet 65: Since Brass, Nor Stone, Nor Earth, Nor Boundless Sea
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea, But sad mortality o’ersways their power, How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Sonnet 66: Tired With All These, For Restful Death I Cry
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Tired with all these, for restful death I cry: As to behold desert a beggar born, And needy nothing trimm’d in jollity,
Sonnet 67: Ah! Wherefore With Infection Should He Live
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Ah! wherefore with infection should he live, And with his presence grace impiety, That sin by him advantage should achieve,
Sonnet 68: Thus Is His Cheek The Map Of Days Outworn
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn, When beauty lived and died as flowers do now, Before these bastard signs of fair were born,
Sonnet 69: Those Parts Of Thee That The World’s Eye Doth View
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Those parts of thee that the world’s eye doth view Want nothing that the thought of hearts can mend; All tongues, the voice of souls, give thee that due,
Sonnet 70: That Thou Art Blam’d Shall Not Be Thy Defect
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
That thou art blam’d shall not be thy defect, For slander’s mark was ever yet the fair; The ornament of beauty is suspect,
Sonnet 71: No Longer Mourn For Me When I Am Dead
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
No longer mourn for me when I am dead Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell Give warning to the world that I am fled
Sonnet 72: O! Lest The World Should Task You To Recite
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! lest the world should task you to recite What merit lived in me, that you should love After my death, dear love, forget me quite,
Sonnet 73: That Time Of Year Thou Mayst In Me Behold
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
That time of year thou mayst in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Sonnet 74: But Be Contented: When That Fell Arrest
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
But be contented: when that fell arrest Without all bail shall carry me away, My life hath in this line some interest,
Sonnet 75: So Are You To My Thoughts As Food To Life
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
So are you to my thoughts as food to life, Or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground; And for the peace of you I hold such strife
Sonnet 76: Why Is My Verse So Barren Of New Pride
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Why is my verse so barren of new pride, So far from variation or quick change? Why with the time do I not glance aside
Sonnet 77: Thy Glass Will Show Thee How Thy Beauties Wear
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear, Thy dial how thy precious minutes waste; These vacant leaves thy mind’s imprint will bear,
Sonnet 78: So Oft Have I Invoked Thee For My Muse
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
So oft have I invoked thee for my Muse, And found such fair assistance in my verse As every alien pen hath got my use
Sonnet 79: Whilst I Alone Did Call Upon Thy Aid
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid, My verse alone had all thy gentle grace; But now my gracious numbers are decay’d,
Sonnet 80: O How I Faint When I Of You Do Write
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O how I faint when I of you do write, Knowing a better spirit doth use your name, And in the praise thereof spends all his might,
Sonnet 81: Or I Shall Live Your Epitaph To Make
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Or I shall live your epitaph to make, Or you survive when I in earth am rotten; From hence your memory death cannot take,
Sonnet 82: I Grant Thou Wert Not Married To My Muse
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
I grant thou wert not married to my Muse, And therefore mayst without attaint o’erlook The dedicated words which writers use
Sonnet 83: I Never Saw That You Did Painting Need
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
I never saw that you did painting need, And therefore to your fair no painting set; I found, or thought I found, you did exceed
Sonnet 84: Who Is It That Says Most, Which Can Say More
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Who is it that says most, which can say more, Than this rich praise: that you alone are you, In whose confine immured is the store
Sonnet 85: My Tongue-tied Muse In Manners Holds Her Still
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still, While comments of your praise richly compil’d, Reserve their character with golden quill,
Sonnet 86: Was It The Proud Full Sail Of His Great Verse
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Was it the proud full sail of his great verse, Bound for the prize of all too precious you, That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse,
Sonnet 87: Farewell! Thou Art Too Dear For My Possessing
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing, And like enough thou know’st thy estimate, The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;
Sonnet 88: When Thou Shalt Be Dispos’d To Set Me Light
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When thou shalt be dispos’d to set me light, And place my merit in the eye of scorn, Upon thy side, against myself I’ll fight,
Sonnet 89: Say That Thou Didst Forsake Me For Some Fault
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault, And I will comment upon that offence: Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
Sonnet 90: Then Hate Me When Thou Wilt; If Ever, Now
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now; Now, while the world is bent my deeds to cross, Join with the spite of fortune, make me bow,
Sonnet 91: Some Glory In Their Birth, Some In Their Skill
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Some glory in their birth, some in their skill, Some in their wealth, some in their body’s force, Some in their garments though new-fangled ill;
Sonnet 92: But Do Thy Worst To Steal Thyself Away
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
But do thy worst to steal thyself away, For term of life thou art assured mine; And life no longer than thy love will stay,
Sonnet 93: So Shall I Live, Supposing Thou Art True
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
So shall I live, supposing thou art true, Like a deceived husband; so love’s face May still seem love to me, though alter’d new;
Sonnet 94: They That Have Power To Hurt, And Will Do None
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
They that have power to hurt, and will do none, That do not do the thing they most do show, Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Sonnet 95: How Sweet And Lovely Dost Thou Make The Shame
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame Which, like a canker in the fragrant rose, Doth spot the beauty of thy budding name!
Sonnet 96: Some Say Thy Fault Is Youth, Some Wantonness
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness; Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport; Both grace and faults are lov’d of more and less:
Sonnet 97: How Like A Winter Hath My Absence Been
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
How like a winter hath my absence been From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!
Sonnet 98: From You Have I Been Absent In The Spring
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
From you have I been absent in the spring, When proud-pied April, dress’d in all his trim, Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing,
Sonnet 99: The Forward Violet Thus Did I Chide
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
The forward violet thus did I chide: Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells, If not from my love’s breath? The purple pride
Sonnet 100: Where Art Thou Muse That Thou Forget’st So Long
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Where art thou Muse that thou forget’st so long, To speak of that which gives thee all thy might? Spend’st thou thy fury on some worthless song,
Sonnet 101: O Truant Muse What Shall Be Thy Amends
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O truant Muse what shall be thy amends For thy neglect of truth in beauty dy’d? Both truth and beauty on my love depends;
Sonnet 102: My Love Is Strengthen’d, Though More Weak In Seeming
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
My love is strengthen’d, though more weak in seeming; I love not less, though less the show appear; That love is merchandiz’d, whose rich esteeming,
Sonnet 103: Alack! What Poverty My Muse Brings Forth
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Alack! what poverty my Muse brings forth, That having such a scope to show her pride, The argument, all bare, is of more worth
Sonnet 104: To Me, Fair Friend, You Never Can Be Old
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
To me, fair friend, you never can be old, For as you were when first your eye I ey’d, Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold,
Sonnet 105: Let Not My Love Be Call’d Idolatry
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Let not my love be call’d idolatry, Nor my beloved as an idol show, Since all alike my songs and praises be
Sonnet 106: When In The Chronicle Of Wasted Time
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When in the chronicle of wasted time I see descriptions of the fairest wights, And beauty making beautiful old rime,
Sonnet 107: Not Mine Own Fears, Nor The Prophetic Soul
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul Of the wide world dreaming on things to come, Can yet the lease of my true love control,
Sonnet 108: What’s In The Brain, That Ink May Character
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
What’s in the brain, that ink may character, Which hath not figur’d to thee my true spirit? What’s new to speak, what now to register,
Sonnet 109: O! Never Say That I Was False Of Heart
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! never say that I was false of heart, Though absence seem’d my flame to qualify, As easy might I from my self depart
Sonnet 110: Alas! ’tis True, I Have Gone Here And There
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Alas! ’tis true, I have gone here and there, And made my self a motley to the view, Gor’d mine own thoughts, sold cheap what is most dear,
Sonnet 111: O! For My Sake Do You With Fortune Chide
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! for my sake do you with Fortune chide, The guilty goddess of my harmful deeds, That did not better for my life provide
Sonnet 112: Your Love And Pity Doth The Impression Fill
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Your love and pity doth the impression fill, Which vulgar scandal stamp’d upon my brow; For what care I who calls me well or ill,
Sonnet 113: Since I Left You, Mine Eye Is In My Mind
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind; And that which governs me to go about Doth part his function and is partly blind,
Sonnet 114: Or Whether Doth My Mind, Being Crown’d With You
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Or whether doth my mind, being crown’d with you, Drink up the monarch’s plague, this flattery? Or whether shall I say, mine eye saith true,
Sonnet 115: Those Lines That I Before Have Writ Do Lie
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Those lines that I before have writ do lie, Even those that said I could not love you dearer: Yet then my judgement knew no reason why
Sonnet 116: Let Me Not To The Marriage Of True Minds
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds,
Sonnet 117: Accuse Me Thus: That I Have Scanted All
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all, Wherein I should your great deserts repay, Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Sonnet 118: Like As, To Make Our Appetite More Keen
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Like as, to make our appetite more keen, With eager compounds we our palate urge; As, to prevent our maladies unseen,
Sonnet 119: What Potions Have I Drunk Of Siren Tears
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
What potions have I drunk of Siren tears, Distill’d from limbecks foul as hell within, Applying fears to hopes, and hopes to fears,
Sonnet 120: That You Were Once Unkind Befriends Me Now
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
That you were once unkind befriends me now, And for that sorrow, which I then did feel, Needs must I under my transgression bow,
Sonnet 121: ’tis Better To Be Vile Than Vile Esteem’d
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
’Tis better to be vile than vile esteem’d, When not to be receives reproach of being; And the just pleasure lost, which is so deem’d
Sonnet 122: Thy Gift, Thy Tables, Are Within My Brain
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brain Full character’d with lasting memory, Which shall above that idle rank remain,
Sonnet 123: No, Time, Thou Shalt Not Boast That I Do Change
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change: Thy pyramids built up with newer might To me are nothing novel, nothing strange;
Sonnet 124: If My Dear Love Were But The Child Of State
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
If my dear love were but the child of state, It might for Fortune’s bastard be unfather’d, As subject to Time’s love or to Time’s hate,
Sonnet 125: Were’t Aught To Me I Bore The Canopy
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Were’t aught to me I bore the canopy, With my extern the outward honouring, Or laid great bases for eternity,
Sonnet 126: O Thou, My Lovely Boy, Who In Thy Power
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power Dost hold Time’s fickle glass, his fickle hour; Who hast by waning grown, and therein show’st
Sonnet 127: In The Old Age Black Was Not Counted Fair
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
In the old age black was not counted fair, Or if it were, it bore not beauty’s name; But now is black beauty’s successive heir,
Sonnet 128: How Oft When Thou, My Music, Music Play’st
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
How oft when thou, my music, music play’st, Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway’st
Sonnet 129: The Expense Of Spirit In A Waste Of Shame
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
The expense of spirit in a waste of shame Is lust in action: and till action, lust Is perjur’d, murderous, bloody, full of blame,
Sonnet 130: My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red, than her lips red: If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
Sonnet 131: Thou Art As Tyrannous, So As Thou Art
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art, As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel; For well thou know’st to my dear doting heart
Sonnet 132: Thine Eyes I Love, And They, As Pitying Me
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me, Knowing thy heart torment me with disdain, Have put on black and loving mourners be,
Sonnet 133: Beshrew That Heart That Makes My Heart To Groan
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan For that deep wound it gives my friend and me! Is’t not enough to torture me alone,
Sonnet 134: So, Now I Have Confess’d That He Is Thine
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
So, now I have confess’d that he is thine, And I my self am mortgag’d to thy will, Myself I’ll forfeit, so that other mine
Sonnet 135: Whoever Hath Her Wish, Thou Hast Thy ‘will,’
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy ‘Will,’ And ‘Will’ to boot, and ‘Will’ in over-plus; More than enough am I that vex’d thee still,
Sonnet 136: If Thy Soul Check Thee That I Come So Near
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
If thy soul check thee that I come so near, Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy ‘Will’, And will, thy soul knows, is admitted there;
Sonnet 137: Thou Blind Fool, Love, What Dost Thou To Mine Eyes
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes, That they behold, and see not what they see? They know what beauty is, see where it lies,
Sonnet 138: When My Love Swears That She Is Made Of Truth
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
When my love swears that she is made of truth, I do believe her though I know she lies, That she might think me some untutor’d youth,
Sonnet 139: O! Call Not Me To Justify The Wrong
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! call not me to justify the wrong That thy unkindness lays upon my heart; Wound me not with thine eye, but with thy tongue:
Sonnet 140: Be Wise As Thou Art Cruel; Do Not Press
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press My tongue-tied patience with too much disdain; Lest sorrow lend me words, and words express
Sonnet 141: In Faith I Do Not Love Thee With Mine Eyes
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
In faith I do not love thee with mine eyes, For they in thee a thousand errors note; But ’tis my heart that loves what they despise,
Sonnet 142: Love Is My Sin, And Thy Dear Virtue Hate
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate, Hate of my sin, grounded on sinful loving: O! but with mine compare thou thine own state,
Sonnet 143: Lo, As A Careful Housewife Runs To Catch
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Lo, as a careful housewife runs to catch One of her feather’d creatures broke away, Sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatch
Sonnet 144: Two Loves I Have Of Comfort And Despair
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Two loves I have of comfort and despair, Which like two spirits do suggest me still: The better angel is a man right fair,
Sonnet 145: Those Lips That Love’s Own Hand Did Make
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Those lips that Love’s own hand did make, Breathed forth the sound that said ‘I hate’, To me that languish’d for her sake:
Sonnet 146: Poor Soul, The Centre Of My Sinful Earth
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth, My sinful earth these rebel powers array, Why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth,
Sonnet 147: My Love Is As A Fever Longing Still
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
My love is as a fever longing still, For that which longer nurseth the disease; Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,
Sonnet 148: O Me! What Eyes Hath Love Put In My Head
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O me! what eyes hath Love put in my head, Which have no correspondence with true sight; Or, if they have, where is my judgement fled,
Sonnet 149: Canst Thou, O Cruel! Say I Love Thee Not
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not, When I against myself with thee partake? Do I not think on thee, when I forgot
Sonnet 150: O! From What Power Hast Thou This Powerful Might
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
O! from what power hast thou this powerful might, With insufficiency my heart to sway? To make me give the lie to my true sight,
Sonnet 151: Love Is Too Young To Know What Conscience Is
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Love is too young to know what conscience is, Yet who knows not conscience is born of love? Then, gentle cheater, urge not my amiss,
Sonnet 152: In Loving Thee Thou Know’st I Am Forsworn
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn, But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing; In act thy bed-vow broke, and new faith torn,
Sonnet 153: Cupid Laid By His Brand And Fell Asleep
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep: A maid of Dian’s this advantage found, And his love-kindling fire did quickly steep
Sonnet 154: The Little Love-god Lying Once Asleep
William Shakespeare
shakespeare
The little Love-god lying once asleep, Laid by his side his heart-inflaming brand, Whilst many nymphs that vow’d chaste life to keep
