William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Sonnet XXX: When to the Sessions of Sweet Silent Thought
1When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
2I summon up remembrance of things past,
3I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
4And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:
5Then can I drown an eye, unus'd to flow,
6For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
7And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe,
8And moan th' expense of many a vanish'd sight;
9Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
10And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er
11The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
12Which I new pay as if not paid before.
13But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
14All losses are restor'd, and sorrows end.
Notes
4] time's waste: i.e., in seeking many a thing in vain.
6] dateless: endless.
8] expense: loss.
9] grievances foregone: past distresses.
Online text copyright © 2009, 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 1.139.
Recent editing: 2:2002/3/28
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: ababcdcdefefgg
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