Shakespeare's Sonnets: What is your substance, whereof are you made

Shakespeare's Sonnets: What is your substance, whereof are you made

Sonnet 53

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): d3v-d4r.
1What is your substance, whereof are you made,
2That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
3Since every one hath, every one, one shade,
4And you, but one, can every shadow lend.
5Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
6Is poorly imitated after you;
7On Helen's cheek all art of beauty set,
8And you in Grecian tires are painted new.
9Speak of the spring, and foison of the year,
10The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
11The other as your bounty doth appear,
12And you in every blessèd shape we know.
13    In all external grace you have some part,
14    But you like none, none you, for constant heart.

Notes

2] tend] attend, wait. Back to Line
5] counterfeit] likeness. Back to Line
8] tires] attire, clothes. Back to Line
9] the spring, and foison of the year] possibly alluding to the subjects of sonnets 12 and 18. foison] harvest, plenty. Back to Line
14] constant heart] the motto of the Pembrokes was "Ung je serviray" ('I serve one'; Burke's Peerage, ed. Charles Mosley, 107th edn., III [2003]: 3093). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet