William Shakespeare (ca. 1564-1616)
Sonnet XIX: Devouring Time, Blunt thou the Lion's Paws
1Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws,
2And make the earth devour her own sweet brood;
3Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws,
4And burn the long-liv'd Phoenix in her blood;
5Make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleets,
6And do whate'er thou wilt, swift-footed Time,
7To the wide world and all her fading sweets;
8But I forbid thee one more heinous crime:
9O, carve not with the hours my love's fair brow,
10Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen!
11Him in thy course untainted do allow
12For beauty's pattern to succeeding men.
13Yet do thy worst, old Time! Despite thy wrong
14My love shall in my verse ever live young.
Notes
5] fleets: Northern English for "fleetest."
11] untainted: unsullied, without blemish.
Online text copyright © 2012, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: William Shakespeare, Shake-speares sonnets (London: G. Eld for T. T., 1609). STC 22353. Facs. edn.: London: J. Cape, 1925. PR 2750 B48 1609b ROBA.
First publication date:
1609
RPO poem editor: F. D. Hoeniger
RP edition: 3RP 1.138.
Recent editing: 2:2002/3/28
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: ababcdcdefefgg
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