Shakespeare's Sonnets: Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea

Sonnet 65

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): e2r-e2v.
1Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea
2But sad mortality o'er-sways their pow'r,
3How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea
4Whose action is no stronger then a flow'r?
5O how shall summer's honey breath hold out
6Against the wrackful siege of batt'ring days
7When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
8Nor gates of steel so strong but time decays?
9O fearful meditation! where, alack,
10Shall time's best jewel from time's chest lie hid?
11Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back,
12Or who his spoil o'er beauty can forbid?
13    O none, unless this miracle have might,
14    That in black ink my love may still shine bright.

Notes

1] "Since (there is neither) brass, nor stone ... (but that) sad mortality does not o'ersway their power ..." Back to Line
2] pow'r] power Q. Back to Line
3] hold a plea] try a legal process or action at court. Back to Line
4] action] working; the legal process to obtain a remedy. flow'r] flower Q. Back to Line
6] wrackful] destructive. Back to Line
12] o'er] or Q ("over"). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet