Shakespeare's Sonnets: Devouring time, blunt thou the lion's paws

Sonnet 19

Original Text

SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): b4v-c1r.

2And make the earth devour her own sweet brood,

3Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws

4And burn the long-liv'd phoenix in her blood,

5Make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleet'st,

6And do what e'er thou wilt, swift-footed time,

7To the wide world and all her fading sweets:

8But I forbid thee one most heinous crime,

9O carve not with thy hours my love's fair brow,

10Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen,

11Him in thy course untainted do allow

12For beauty's pattern to succeeding men.

13 Yet do thy worst, old time, despite thy wrong,

14 My love shall in my verse ever live young.

1] The arms of the Pembrokes feature a lion and a panther. Back to Line

Publication Start Year

1609

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

2008

Rhyme

Form