William Shakespeare (ca. 1564-1616)
Shakespeare's Sonnets: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
Sonnet 29
1When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
2I all alone beweep my out-cast state
3And trouble deaf heav'n with my bootless cries,
4And look upon my self and curse my fate,
5Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
6Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess't,
7Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
8With what I most enjoy contented least;
9Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,
10Haply I think on thee, and then my state
11(Like to the lark at break of day arising)
12From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven's gate,
13 For thy sweet love rememb'red such wealth brings,
14 That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Notes
2] beweep] cry (tears) about.
3] heav'n] heauen Q. bootless] remediless.
7] scope] breadth of talents.
9] An extrametrical line.
10] Haply] perhaps.
11] An extrametrical line.
12] sullen] gloomy.
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:
Publication date note: SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): c2v-c3r.
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: 2008
Recent editing: 1:2008/8/22
Composition date:
1609
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: ababcdcdefefgg
Other poems by William Shakespeare
