William Shakespeare (ca. 1564-1616)
Shakespeare's Sonnets: Is it thy will thy image should keep op'n
Sonnet 61
1Is it thy will thy image should keep op'n
2My heavy eyelids to the weary night?
3Dost thou desire my slumbers should be brok'n,
4While shadows like to thee do mock my sight?
5Is it thy spirit that thou send'st from thee
6So far from home into my deeds to pry,
7To find out shames and idle hours in me,
8The scope and tenor of thy jealousy?
9O no, thy love, though much, is not so great,
10It is my love that keeps mine eye awake,
11Mine own true love that doth my rest defeat,
12To play the watch-man ever for thy sake.
13 For thee watch I, whil'st thou dost wake elsewhere,
14 From me far off, with others all too near.
Notes
1] op'n] open Q.
3] brok'n] broken Q.
8] tenor] tenure Q ("drift, purpose").
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): e1v.
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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