RPO -- William Shakespeare : Sonnet LX: Like as the Waves Make towards the Pebbled Shore

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Sonnet LX: Like as the Waves Make towards the Pebbled Shore

1Like as the waves make towards the pebbl'd shore,

2So do our minutes hasten to their end;

3Each changing place with that which goes before,

4In sequent toil all forwards do contend.

5Nativity, once in the main of light,

6Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd,

7Crooked eclipses 'gainst his glory fight,

8And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.

9Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth

10And delves the parallels in beauty's brow,

11Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth,

12And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:

13And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,

14Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.

Notes

1-4] Like as ... contend: from Ovid, Metamorphoses, XV, 180-84.

5] Main of light: main body of light, world of light.

7] Crooked: malignant.

9] flourish: embellishment.

11] rarities of nature's truth: outstanding examples of nature's creative power; literally of nature's conformity to her own best standard. Cf. The Phoenix and Turtle, line 53.

13] in hope: to come.

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

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