Shakespeare's Sonnets: O how I faint when I of you do write

Sonnet 80

Original Text

SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): f1v.

1O how I faint when I of you do write,

3And in the praise thereof spends all his might

4To make me tongue-tied speaking of your fame.

5But since your worth (wide as the ocean is)

6The humble as the proudest sail doth bear,

8On your broad main doth wilfully appear.

11Or (being wrack't) I am a worthless boat,

12He of tall building, and of goodly pride.

13 Then if he thrive and I be cast away,

14 The worst was this, my love was my decay.

2] spirit] pronounced as a single syllable (cf. OED, "sprite"). Back to Line

7] saucy] impertinent. Back to Line

9] shallow'st] shallowest Q. Back to Line

10] soundless] not measurable for depth. Back to Line

Publication Start Year

1609

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

2008

Rhyme

Form