Shakespeare's Sonnets: Ah, wherefore with infection should he live
Shakespeare's Sonnets: Ah, wherefore with infection should he live
Sonnet 67
Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): e2v-e3r.
1Ah, wherefore with infection should he live
2And with his presence grace impiety
3That sin by him advantage should achieve
4And lace it self with his society?
5Why should false painting imitate his cheek
7Why should poor beauty indirectly seek
8Roses of shadow since his rose is true?
9Why should he live, now nature bankrupt is,
10Begger'd of blood to blush through lively veins,
13 O him she stores, to show what wealth she had,
14 In days long since, before these last so bad.
Notes
6] dead seeing] the painting that "sees" the beloved is itself dead, unlike human eyes, which were thought to project beams. Back to Line
11] she] nature (9). Back to Line
12] proved of many] made trial of by many, tasted by many. Q "proud" is a regular variant spelling of the past participle of the verb "prove" in this period (see OED). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
Form