Shakespeare's Sonnets: How can my muse want subject to invent

Shakespeare's Sonnets: How can my muse want subject to invent

Sonnet 38

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): c4v-d1r.
1How can my muse want subject to invent
2While thou dost breathe that pour'st into my verse
3Thine own sweet argument, too excellent
4For every vulgar paper to rehearse?
5Oh give thy self the thanks if aught in me
6Worthy perusal stand against thy sight,
7For who's so dumb that cannot write to thee
8When thou thy self dost give invention light?
9Be thou the tenth muse, ten times more in worth
10Than those old nine which rhymers invocate,
11And he that calls on thee, let him bring forth
12Eternal numbers to out-live long date.
13    If my slight muse do please these curious days,
14    The pain be mine, but thine shall be the praise.

Notes

7] dumb] mute. Back to Line
9] Classical sources name nine muses, one for each art form. Back to Line
10] invocate] call on, invoke. Back to Line
12] numbers] verses, characterized by metrical feet. Shakespeare counted the syllables in his lines. Back to Line
13] curious] fastidious. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet