by Name
by Date
by Title
by First Line
by Last Line
Poet
Poem
Short poem
Keyword
Concordance

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Sonnet LIII: What is your Substance, whereof are you Made


              1What is your substance, whereof are you made,
              2That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
              3Since everyone hath, everyone, one shade,
              4And you, but one, can every shadow lend.
              5Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
              6Is poorly imitated after you;
              7On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set,
              8And you in Grecian tires are painted new.
              9Speak of the spring and foison of the year,
            10The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
            11The other as your bounty doth appear;
            12And you in every blessed shape we know.
            13In all external grace you have some part,
            14But you like none, none you, for constant heart.

Notes

2] tend: attend, wait upon.
shadows ... shade ... shadow: used quibblingly with the meanings of "silhouette" and "reflection," namely the reflection of the friend's substance.

5] counterfeit: likeness.

8] tires: attire.

9] foison: abundance, i.e., autumn.


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 1.140.
Recent editing: 2:2002/3/28

Form: sonnet
Rhyme: ababcdcdefefgg


Other poems by William Shakespeare