William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet
XCVI
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:
Thou mak'st faults
graces that to thee resort.
As on the finger of
a throned queen
The basest jewel will
be well esteem'd,
So are those errors
that in thee are seen
To truths translated,
and for true things deem'd.
How many lambs might
the stern wolf betray,
If like a lamb he
could his looks translate!
How many gazers mightst
thou lead away,
If thou wouldst use
the strength of all thy state!
But do not so; I love thee in such sort,
As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.
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