Shakespeare's Sonnets: Canst thou, O cruel, say I love thee not

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Canst thou, O cruel, say I love thee not

Sonnet 149

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): i3v-i4r.
1Canst thou, O cruel, say I love thee not
2When I against my self with thee partake?
3Do I not think on thee when I forgot
4Am of my self, all tyrant for thy sake?
5Who hateth thee that I do call my friend,
6On whom frown'st thou that I do fawn upon,
7Nay if thou lour'st on me do I not spend
8Revenge upon my self with present moan?
9What merit do I in my self respect
10That is so proud thy service to despise,
11When all my best doth worship thy defect,
12Commanded by the motion of thine eyes?
13    But love, hate on, for now I know thy mind;
14    Those that can see thou lov'st, and I am blind.

Notes

2] partake] take sides. Back to Line
3] when I forgot / Am of my self] when I am forgotten by my [own] self. Back to Line
4] all tyrant] entirely cruel. Back to Line
7] lour'st] frowns, scowls. Back to Line
9] do I in my self respect] do I esteem my self. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet