William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet XXXIV
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,
Hiding thy bravery
in their rotten smoke?
'Tis not enough that
through the cloud thou break,
To dry the rain on
my storm-beaten face,
For no man well of
such a salve can speak,
That heals the wound,
and cures not the disgrace:
Nor can thy shame
give physic to my grief;
Though thou repent,
yet I have still the loss:
The offender's sorrow
lends but weak relief
To him that bears
the strong offence's cross.
Ah! but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds,
And they are rich and ransom all ill deeds.
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