Shakespeare's Sonnets: Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness

Sonnet 96

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): f4v-g1r.
1Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness,
2Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport:
3Both grace and faults are lov'd of more and less.
4Thou mak'st faults graces that to thee resort:
5As on the finger of a thronèd queen,
6The basest jewel will be well esteem'd,
7So are those errors that in thee are seen,
8To truths translated, and for true things deem'd.
9How many lambs might the stern wolf betray,
10If like a lamb he could his looks translate?
11How many gazers might'st thou lead away,
12If thou would'st use the strength of all thy state?
13    But do not so, I love thee in such sort,
14    As thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

Notes

3] more and less] nobility and commoners. Back to Line
4] "You make faults that resort to you to be graces." Back to Line
11] might'st: mighst Q. Back to Line
12] state] noble rank and position in society. Back to Line
14] The concluding couplet occurs also in sonnet 36 (lines 13-14). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet