William Shakespeare (ca. 1564-1616)
Shakespeare's Sonnets: As an unperfect actor on the stage
Sonnet 23
1As an unperfect actor on the stage,
2Who with his fear is put besides his part,
3Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
4Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart,
5So I for fear of trust forget to say
6The perfect ceremony of love's right,
7And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,
8O'er-charg'd with burthen of mine own love's might:
9O let my books be then the eloquence
10And dumb presagers of my speaking breast,
11Who plead for love and look for recompence
12More than that tongue that more hath more express't.
13 O learn to read what silent love hath writ,
14 To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.
Notes
2] put besides] deprived of. part] lines, speech.
3] replete] filled.
5] for fear of trust] in fear of not being believed.
6] right] justified expectation, and rite.
10] presagers] precursors (first used in 1591).
14] with] wit Q. wit] wiht Q.
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: SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): c1v.
First publication date:
1609
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: 2008
Recent editing: 1:2008/8/22
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: ababcdcdefefgg
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