William Shakespeare (ca. 1564-1616)
Sonnet XXV: Let those who are in Favour with their Stars
1Let those who are in favour with their stars
2Of public honour and proud titles boast,
3Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,
4Unlook'd for joy in that I honour most.
5Great princes' favourites their fair leaves spread
6But as the marigold at the sun's eye,
7And in themselves their pride lies buried,
8For at a frown they in their glory die.
9The painful warrior famoused for fight,
10After a thousand victories once foil'd,
11Is from the book of honour razed quite,
12And all the rest forgot for which he toil'd:
13Then happy I, that love and am beloved
14Where I may not remove nor be removed.
Notes
4] Unlook'd for: unheeded, unexpectedly.
9] painful: enduring pain.
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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