Shakespeare's Sonnets: Let me confess that we two must be twain
Shakespeare's Sonnets: Let me confess that we two must be twain
Sonnet 36
Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): c4r-c4v.
2Although our undivided loves are one:
3So shall those blots that do with me remain,
4Without thy help, by me be borne alone.
7Which though it alter not love's sole effect,
8Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love's delight.
9I may not ever-more acknowledge thee,
10Lest my bewailèd guilt should do thee shame,
11Nor thou with public kindness honour me,
12Unless thou take that honour from thy name:
13 But do not so, I love thee in such sort,
14 As thou being mine, mine is thy good report.
Notes
1] twain] not made of one flesh as when married. Back to Line
5] respect] consideration. Back to Line
6] separable] glossed by OED as "? Capable of separating" ("separable," a., 2). Their joint spirit is able to "divide" (without ill effect; cf. 39.5). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
Form