William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet XLIX
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,
Call'd to that audit
by advis'd respects;
Against that time
when thou shalt strangely pass,
And scarcely greet
me with that sun, thine eye,
When love, converted
from the thing it was,
Shall reasons find
of settled gravity;
Against that time
do I ensconce me here,
Within the knowledge
of mine own desert,
And this my hand,
against my self uprear,
To guard the lawful
reasons on thy part:
To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws,
Since why to love I can allege no cause.
|