William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet X
For shame!
deny that thou bear'st love to any,
Who for thy self art
so unprovident.
Grant, if thou wilt,
thou art belov'd of many,
But that thou none
lov'st is most evident:
For thou art so possess'd
with murderous hate,
That 'gainst thy self
thou stick'st not to conspire,
Seeking that beauteous
roof to ruinate
Which to repair should
be thy chief desire.
O! change thy thought,
that I may change my mind:
Shall hate be fairer
lodg'd than gentle love?
Be, as thy presence
is, gracious and kind,
Or to thyself at least
kind-hearted prove:
Make thee another self for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine or thee.
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