Shakespeare's Sonnets: Wer't ought to me I bore the canopy

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Wer't ought to me I bore the canopy

Sonnet 125

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): h2v-h3r.
1Wer't ought to me I bore the canopy,
2With my extern the outward honoring,
3Or laid great bases for eternity,
4Which proves more short than waste or ruining?
5Have I not seen dwellers on form and favour
6Lose all and more by paying too much rent
7For compound sweet, forgoing simple savour,
8Pitiful thrivers in their gazing spent?
9No, let me be obsequious in thy heart,
10And take thou my oblation, poor but free,
11Which is not mixt with seconds, knows no art,
12But mutual render, only me for thee.
13    Hence, thou suborn'd informer! a true soul
14    When most impeach't stands least in thy control.

Notes

2] extern] outward appearance. Possibly Shakespeare refers to events at the triumph celebrating the coronation of James I. Back to Line
3] bases] OED, "base," n.1, 3a: "The part of a column, consisting of the plinth and various mouldings, between the bottom of the shaft and top of the pedestal, or, if there is no pedestal, between the shaft and the pavement." Back to Line
5] Extrametrical, with line 7. Back to Line
7] forgoing] doing without. Back to Line
8] spent] worn out. Back to Line
10] oblation] gift, as to the church. Back to Line
11] seconds] inferior things. Back to Line
12] render] "The act of rendering up, or making over to another; surrender (of a person or place)" (OED, "render," n. 2, 2). Back to Line
13] suborn'd] corrupted by bribes. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet