Shakespeare's Sonnets: O that you were your self, but love you are

Shakespeare's Sonnets: O that you were your self, but love you are

Sonnet 13

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): b3v.
1O that you were your self, but love you are
2No longer yours than you your self here live;
3Against this coming end you should prepare,
4And your sweet semblance to some other give.
5So should that beauty which you hold in lease
6Find no determination, then you were
7Your self again after your self's decease,
8When your sweet issue your sweet form should bear.
9Who lets so fair a house fall to decay,
10Which husbandry in honour might uphold,
11Against the stormy gusts of winter's day
12And barren rage of death's eternal cold?
13    O none but unthrifts, dear my love you know;
14    You had a father, let your son say so.

Notes

2] You are no more yourself than you live here. Back to Line
6] determination] end. Back to Line
7] Your] You Q. Back to Line
9] so fair a house] his family, and the lodging that is the beloved himself (see 10.7). Back to Line
13] unthrifts] irresponsible people, prodigals. Back to Line
14] Lord (William) Herbert succeeded as third earl of Pembroke at his father's death in January 1601. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet