Shakespeare's Sonnets: My tongue-tied muse in manners holds her still

Shakespeare's Sonnets: My tongue-tied muse in manners holds her still

Sonnet 85

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): f2v.
1My tongue-tied muse in manners holds her still
2While comments of your praise, richly compil'd,
3Reserve their character with golden quill
4And precious phrase by all the muses fil'd.
5I think good thoughts, whil'st other write good words,
6And like unlettered clerk still cry "Amen"
7To every hymn that able spirit affords
8In polish't form of well-refinèd pen.
9Hearing you prais'd, I say, "'tis so, 'tis true,"
10And to the most of praise add some-thing more,
11But that is in my thought, whose love to you
12(Though words come hind-most) holds his rank before.
13    Then others for the breath of words respect,
14    Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect.

Notes

1] still] quiet. Back to Line
3] Reserve] set apart (OED, "reserve," v.1, 3.a.). golden quill] aureate or high style. Back to Line
4] fil'd: made perfect, filed. Back to Line
5] other] others. Back to Line
7] able spirit] possibly the rival poet ("spirit" is pronounced as a single syllable; cf. OED, "sprite"). affords] supplies. Back to Line
13] "Then respect other [poets] for ..." Back to Line
14] dumb] mute. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet