 Part 13 of Shakespeare's Sonnets Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed, when not to be received's reproach of being, and the just pleasure lost which is so deemed not by our feeling, but by others seeing, for why should others false adulterate eyes give salutation to my sportive blood, or on my frailties why our frail are spies which in their wills count bad what I think good? No. I am that I am, and they that level at my abuses reckon up their own. I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel. By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown. Unless this general evil they maintain, all men are bad, and in their badness reign. One-twenty-two One-twenty-three They are but dressings of a former sight. Our dates are brief, and therefore we admire what thou dost foist upon us that is old, and rather make them born to our desire than think that we before have heard them told. Thy registers and thee I both defy, not wondering at the present nor the past, for thy records and what we see doth lie made more or less by thy continual haste. This I do vow, and this shall ever be. I will be true, despite thy scythe and thee. One-twenty-four It fears not policy, that heretic, which works on leases of short-numbered hours, but all alone stands hugely politic, that it nor grows with heat nor drowns with showers. To this I witness call the fools of time, which die for goodness, who have lived for crime. One-twenty-five Or laid great bases for eternity, which proves more short than waste or ruining. Have I not seen dwellers on form and favour, lose all and more by paying too much rent for compound sweet? Forgoing simple saver, pitiful thrivers, and their gazing spent? No. Let me be obsequious in thy heart, and take thou my oblation, poor but free, which is not mixed with seconds, knows no art, but mutual render, only me for thee. Hence, thou suborned informer, a true soul when most impeached, stands least in thy control. One-twenty-six O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power just hold time's fickle glass his fickle hour, who hast by waning grown, and therein shoest thy lovers withering as thy sweet self-grossed. If nature, sovereign mistress over wrack, as thou goest onwards, still will pluck thee back, she keeps thee to this purpose, that her skill may time disgrace and wretched minutes kill. Yet fear her, O thou minion of her pleasure, she may detain but not still keep her treasure. Her audit, though delayed, answered must be, and her quietess is to render thee. One-twenty-seven 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 air, and beauty slandered with a bastard shame. For since each hand hath put on nature's power, fairing the foul with art's false, borrowed face, sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower, but is profaned, if not lives and disgrace. Therefore my mistress's eyes are raven black, her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem at such who, not born fair, no beauty lack, slandering creation with a false esteem. Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe, that every tongue says beauty should look so. One-twenty-eight How oft when thou my music, music placed, upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds, with thy sweet fingers when thou gently swayest, the wiry concord that mine ear confounds, do I envy those jacks that nimble leap, to kiss the tender inward of thy hand, whilst my poor lips which should that harvest reap, at the wood's boldness by the blushing stand, to be so tickled they would change their state, and situation with those dancing chips, or whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait, making dead wood more blessed than living lips. Since saucy jacks so happy are in this, give them thy fingers, me thy lips, to kiss. One-twenty-nine The expense of spirit in a waste of shame is lust in action, and till action lust is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame, savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust. Enjoyed no sooner but despised straight, past reason hunted, and no sooner had, past reason hated as a swallowed bait, on purpose laid to make the taker mad. Mad in pursuit and in possession so, had, having, and in quest to have extreme, a bliss in proof, and proved a very woe, before a joy proposed behind a dream. All this the world well knows, yet none knows well, to shun the heaven that leads men to this hell. One-thirty My mistress's eyes are nothing like the sun. Coral is far more red than her lips red. If snow be white, why then her breasts are done? If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damest red and white, but no such roses see eye and her cheeks, and in some perfumes is there more delight than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasing sound. I grant I never saw a goddess go. My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love is rare, as any she belied with false compare. END OF PART XIII Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art, as those whose beauties proudly make them cruel. For well thou knowest to my dear doting heart, thou art the fairest and most precious jewel. Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold, thy face hath not the power to make love groan. To say they err, I dare not be so bold, although I swear it to myself alone. And to be sure that is not false I swear, a thousand groans but thinking on thy face, one another's neck to witness bear, thy black is fairest in my judgment's place. In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds, and thence this slander as I think proceeds. Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me, knowing thy heart torment me with disdain, have put on black and loving mourners be, looking with pretty roof upon my pain. And truly not the morning sun of heaven better becomes the gray cheeks of the east, nor that full star that ushers in the even doth have that glory to the sober west, as those two morning eyes become thy face. Oh, let it then as well beseem thy heart to mourn for me since mourning doth thee grace, and suit thy pity like in every part. Then will I swear beauty herself is black, and all they foul that thy complexion lack. 1.33 1.34 So now I have confessed that he is thine, and I myself am mortgage to thy will, myself I'll forfeit, so that other mine thou wilt restore to be my comfort still. But thou wilt not, nor he will not be free, for thou art covetous, and he is kind. He learned but surety like to write for me under that bond that him as fast doth bind. The statute of thy beauty thou wilt take, thou userer that puts forth all to use, and sue a friend came debtor for my sake, so him I lose through my unkind abuse. Him have I lost, thou hast both him and me, he pays the whole, and yet am I not free. 1.35 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, to thy sweet will making addition thus. Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious, not once vouchsafe to hide my will in thine? Shall will in others seem right gracious, and in my will no fair acceptance shine? The sea all water yet receives rain still, and in abundance addeth to his store. So thou, being rich in will, add to thy will one will of mine to make thy large will more. Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill, think all but one, and me in that one will. 1.36 I fill it full with wills, and my will one. In things of great receipt with ease we prove among a number one is reckoned none. Then in the number let me pass untold, though in thy store's account I one must be. For nothing hold me, so it please thee hold that nothing me, a something sweet to thee. Make but my name thy love, and love that still. And then thou lovest me, for my name is will. 1.37 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, yet what the best is take the worst to be? If eyes corrupt by over-partial looks be anchored in the bay where all men ride, why of eyes falsehood hast thou forged hooks, where to the judgment of my heart is tied? Why should my heart think that a several plot, which my heart knows the wide world's common place? Or mine eyes seeing this say this is not, to put fair truth upon so foul a face? In things right true my heart and eyes have erred, and to this false plague are they now transferred. 1.38 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 untutored youth, unlearned in the world's false subtleties. Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young, although she knows my days are past the best, simply I credit her false speaking tongue. On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed. But wherefore says she not she is unjust, and wherefore say not I that I am old? Oh, love's best habit is in seeming trust, and age in love loves not to have years told. Therefore I lie with her, and she with me, and in our faults by lies we flattered be. 1.39 Oh, call not me to justify the wrong that thy unkindness lays upon my heart. Wound me not with thine eye, but with thy tongue. Use power with power, and slay me not by art. Tell me thou lovest elsewhere, but in my sight, dear heart, forbear to glance thine eye aside. What needs thou wound with cunning, when thy might is more than my oppressed defence can bide? Let me excuse thee. Ah, my love well knows her pretty looks have been mine enemies, and therefore from my face she turns my foes, that they elsewhere might dart their injuries. Yet do not so. But since I am near slain, kill me outright with looks, and rid my pain. 1.40 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 the manner of my pity-wanting pain. If I might teach thee wit, better it were, though not to love, yet love to tell me so. As testy sick men, when their deaths be near, no news but health from their physicians know. For if I should despair, I should grow mad, and in my madness might speak ill of thee. Now this ill-resting world is grown so bad, mad slanderers by mad ears believe it be, that I may not be so, nor thou belied, bear thine eyes straight, though thy proud heart go wide. End of Part 14 Part 15 of Shakespeare's Sonnets This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Elizabeth Klett The Sonnets by William Shakespeare Part 15 Sonnets 141-154 141 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, who in despite a view is pleased to dote. Nor are mine ears with thy tongue's tune delighted, nor tender feeling to base touches prone, nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited to any sensual feast with thee alone. But my five wits, nor my five senses, can dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee, who leaves unsuade the likeness of a man, thy proud heart's slave and vassal wretch to be. Only my plague thus far I count my gain, that she that makes me sin awards me pain. 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, and thou shall find it merits not reproving, or if it do not from those lips of thine, that have profaned their scarlet ornaments, and sealed false bonds of love as oft as mine, robbed others' beds revenues of their rents. Be it lawful I love thee, as thou lovest those whom thine eyes woo as mine importun thee. Root pity in thy heart, that when it grows thy pity may deserve to pity'd be. If thou dost seek to have what thou dost hide, by self-example mayest thou be denied. Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch one of her feathered creatures broke away, sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatch, in pursuit of the things she would have stay. Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase, cries to catch her whose busy care is bent to follow that which flies before her face, not prizing her poor infant's discontent. So runced thou after that which flies from thee, whilst I, thy babe, chase thee afar behind, but if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me, and play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind, so will I pray that thou mayst have thy will, if thou turn back, and my loud crying still. 144 Two loves I have of comfort and despair, which like two spirits do suggest me still. The better angel is a man right fair, the worse her spirit a woman colored ill. To win me soon to hell my female evil tempteth my better angel from my side, and would corrupt my saint to be a devil, wooing his purity with her foul pride. And whether that my angel be turned fiend, suspect I may, yet not directly tell, but being both from me, both to each friend, I guess one angel in another's hell. Yet this shall I near know, but live in doubt, till my bad angel fire my good one out. 145 Those lips that love's own hand did make, breathed forth the sound that said, I hate, to me that languished for her sake, but when she saw my woeful state, straight in her heart did mercy come, chiding that tongue that ever sweet was used in giving gentle doom, and taught it thus anew to greet. I hate, she altered with an end, that followed it as gentle day doth follow night, who like a fiend from heaven to hell is flown away. I hate from hate away she threw, and saved my life, saying, not you. 146 Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth, my sinful earth these rebel powers array, why dost thou pine within and suffer dearth, painting thy outward walls so costly gay? Why so large cost, having so short a lease, dost thou upon thy fading mansion spend? Shall worms, inheritors of this excess, eat up thy charge? Is this thy body's end? Then soul, live thou upon thy servant's loss, and let that pine to aggravate thy store. Buy terms divine in selling hours of dross, within be fed, without be rich no more. So shall thou feed on death, that feeds on men, and death once dead, there's no more dying then. 147 My love is as a fever, longing still for that which longer nurseth the disease, feeding on that which doth preserve the ill, the uncertain sickly appetite to please. My reason, the physician to my love, angry that his prescriptions are not kept, hath left me, and I desperate now approve desire is death, which physic did accept. Past cure, am I, now reason is past care, and frantic mad with evermore unrest, my thoughts and my discourse as madmen's are, that random from the truth vainly expressed, for I have sworn thee fair and thought thee bright, who art as black as hell, as dark as night. 148 O me, what eyes hath love put in my head, which have no correspondence with true sight? Or if they have, where is my judgment fled, that censures falsely what they see aright? If that be fair, whereon my false eyes doth, what means the world to say it is not so? If it be not, then love doth well denote, love's eye is not so true as all men's. No, how can it? O, how can love's eye be true, that is so vexed with watching and with tears? No marvel, then, though I mistake my view, the sun itself sees not till heaven clears. O cunning love, with tears thou keeps'd me blind, lest eyes well-seeing thy foul faults should find. 149 Nay, I love thee not, when I against myself with thee partake. Do I not think on thee, when I forgot Emma of myself all tyrant for thy sake? Who hatheth thee that I do call my friend, on whom frounced thou that I do fawn upon? Nay, if thou lourest on me, do I not spend revenge upon myself with present moan? What merit do I in myself respect, that is so proud thy service to despise, when all my best doth worship thy defect, commanded by the motion of thine eyes? But, love, hate on, for now I know thy mind, those that can see thou lovest, and I am blind. 150 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, and swear that brightness doth not grace the day? Whence hast thou this becoming of things ill, that in the very refuse of thy deeds there is such strength and warranties of skill, that in my mind thy worst all best exceeds? Who taught thee how to make me love thee more, the more I hear and see just cause of hate? O, though I love what others do a poor, with others thou shouldst not a poor my state, if thy unworthiness raised love in me, more worthy I to be beloved of thee. 151 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, lest guilty of my faults thy sweet self prove. For thou betraying me, I do betray my nobler part to my gross body's treason. My soul doth tell my body that he may triumph in love, flesh stays no farther reason, but rising at thy name doth point out thee as his triumphant prize. Proud of this pride, he is contented thy poor drudge to be, to stand in thy affairs fall by thy side. No want of conscience hold it that I call her love, for whose dear love I rise and fall. 152 In loving thee thou knowest I am foresworn, but thou art twice foresworn to me love swearing, in act thy bed-vow broke and new faith torn, in vowing new hate after new love bearing. But why of two oaths breach do I accuse thee, when I break twenty? I am perjured most, for all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee, and all my honest faith in thee is lost. For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness, oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy, and to enlighten thee gave eyes to blindness, or made them swear against the thing they see. For I have sworn thee fair, more perjured I, to swear against the truth so foul a lie. 153 Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep. A maid of dyands this advantage found, and his love kindling fired it quickly steep in a cold valley fountain of that ground, which borrowed from this holy fire of love a dateless lively heat, still to endure, and grew a seething bath which yet men prove against strange maladies a sovereign cure. But at my mistress's eye love's brand new fired, the boy for trial needs would touch my breast. I, sick with all the help of bath, desired, and thither hide a sad, distempered guest. But found no cure, the bath for my help lies where Cupid got new fire, my mistress's eyes. 154 The little love-guard lying once asleep, laid by his side his heart-enflaming brand, whilst many nymphs that vowed chaste life to keep came tripping by. But in her maiden hand the fairest votary took up that fire which many legions of true hearts had warmed, and so the general of hot desire was sleeping by a virgin hand disarmed. This brand she quenched in a cool well by, which from love's fire took heat perpetual, growing a bath and helpful remedy for men diseased. But I, my mistress's thrall, came there for cure, and this by that I prove, love's fire heats water, water cools not love. End of Part 15 End of Shakespeare's Sonnets