Shakespeare's Sonnets: Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing

Sonnet 87

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): f3r.
1Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing,
2And like enough thou know'st thy estimate.
3The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing:
4My bonds in thee are all determinate.
5For how do I hold thee but by thy granting,
6And for that riches where is my deserving?
7The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,
8And so my patent back again is swerving.
9Thy self thou gav'st, thy own worth then not knowing,
10Or me to whom thou gav'st it else mistaking,
11So thy great gift upon misprision growing,
12Comes home again, on better judgement making.
13    Thus have I had thee as a dream doth flatter,
14    In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.

Notes

2] estimate] valuation. Back to Line
3] charter] deed. releasing] acquittal, discharge from obligation. Back to Line
4] bonds in] claims on. determinate] terminated. Back to Line
7] wanting] lacking. Back to Line
8] back again swerving] diverting back (to you). Back to Line
11] misprision] error. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet