Shakespeare's Sonnets: If the dull substance of my flesh were thought

Shakespeare's Sonnets: If the dull substance of my flesh were thought

Sonnet 44

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): d2r.
1If the dull substance of my flesh were thought,
2Injurious distance should not stop my way,
3For then, despite of space, I would be brought
4From limits far remote where thou dost stay;
5No matter then, although my foot did stand
6Upon the farthest earth remov'd from thee,
7For nimble thought can jump both sea and land
8As soon as think the place where he would be.
9But ah, thought kills me that I am not thought
10To leap large lengths of miles when thou art gone,
11But that, so much of earth and water wrought,
12I must attend time's leisure with my moan,
13    Receiving naughts by elements so slow
14    But heavy tears, badges of either's woe.

Notes

2] Injurious] elided. Back to Line
4] where] to where. Back to Line
9] I am not thought] i.e., that I have flesh rather than thought. Back to Line
11] earth and water] two of the four elements.wrought] am I made. Back to Line
13] naughts] nothings. We expect "nought" but a plural suits "heavy tears," to which "naughts" refers. Back to Line
14] But] Merely. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet