Shakespeare's Sonnets: Against that time (if ever that time come)

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Against that time (if ever that time come)

Sonnet 49

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): d3r.
1Against that time (if ever that time come)
2When I shall see thee frown on my defects,
3When as thy love hath cast his utmost sum,
4Call'd to that audit by advis'd respects,
5Against that time when thou shalt strangely pass
6And scarcely greet me with that sun, thine eye,
7When love converted from the thing it was
8Shall reasons find of settled gravity;
9Against that time do I ensconce me here
10Within the knowledge of mine own desert,
11And this my hand against my self uprear
12To guard the lawful reasons on thy part;
13    To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws,
14    Since why to love I can allege no cause.

Notes

1] Against] Anticipating. Back to Line
3] cast his utmost sum] added up the final reckoning. Back to Line
4] respects] considerations (OED, "respect," n., 14a). Back to Line
5] strangely] as if we were strangers. Back to Line
9] ensconce] "shelter within or behind a fortification" (OED, 2b). Back to Line
11] uprear] raise up, as a guard who bars the way. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet