William Shakespeare (ca. 1564-1616)
Shakespeare's Sonnets: That God forbid that made me first your slave
Sonnet 58
1That God forbid that made me first your slave
2I should in thought control your times of pleasure,
3Or at your hand th' account of hours to crave,
4Being your vassal bound to stay your leisure.
5Oh let me suffer (being at your beck)
6Th' imprison'd absence of your liberty,
7And patience tame, to suff'rance bide each check,
8Without accusing you of injury.
9Be where you list, your charter is so strong
10That you your self may privilege your time
11To what you will, to you it doth belong
12Your self to pardon of self-doing crime.
13 I am to wait, though waiting so be hell,
14 Not blame your pleasure, be it ill or well.
Notes
1] "God forbid who made me first your slave that I should ..."
2] Extrametrical.
4] stay your leisure] wait until you have time (to see me).
7] suff'rance] sufferance Q.
bide] endure.
check] reprimand.
9] list] wish.
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): e1r.
First publication date:
1609
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: 2008
Recent editing: 1:2008/8/24
Form: sonnet
Rhyme: ababcdcdefefgg
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