Shakespeare's Sonnets: That God forbid that made me first your slave

Shakespeare's Sonnets: That God forbid that made me first your slave

Sonnet 58

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): e1r.
1That God forbid that made me first your slave
2I should in thought control your times of pleasure,
3Or at your hand th' account of hours to crave,
4Being your vassal bound to stay your leisure.
5Oh let me suffer (being at your beck)
6Th' imprison'd absence of your liberty,
7And patience tame, to suff'rance bide each check,
8Without accusing you of injury.
9Be where you list, your charter is so strong
10That you your self may privilege your time
11To what you will, to you it doth belong
12Your self to pardon of self-doing crime.
13    I am to wait, though waiting so be hell,
14    Not blame your pleasure, be it ill or well.

Notes

1] "God forbid who made me first your slave that I should ..." Back to Line
2] Extrametrical. Back to Line
4] stay your leisure] wait until you have time (to see me). Back to Line
7] suff'rance] sufferance Q.bide] endure.check] reprimand. Back to Line
9] list] wish. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet