Shakespeare's Sonnets: My love is as a fever longing still

Shakespeare's Sonnets: My love is as a fever longing still

Sonnet 147

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): i3v.
1My love is as a fever longing still
2For that which longer nurseth the disease,
3Feeding on that which doth preserve the ill,
4Th' uncertain sickly appetite to please.
5My reason, the physician to my love,
6Angry that his prescriptions are not kept,
7Hath left me, and I desp'rate now approve
8Desire is death, which physic did except.
9Past cure I am, now reason is past care,
10And frantic mad with ever-more unrest.
11My thoughts and my discourse as mad men's are,
12At random from the truth vainly express't,
13    For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright,
14    Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.

Notes

1] still] always. Back to Line
7] desp'rate] desperate Q. approve] find out. Back to Line
8] Desire is] that desire is. except] exclude. Back to Line
12] At random] Scatter-brained. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet