Shakespeare's Sonnets: Where art thou, muse, that thou forget'st so long

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Where art thou, muse, that thou forget'st so long

Sonnet 100

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): g1v.
1Where art thou, muse, that thou forget'st so long
2To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?
3Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song,
4Dark'ning thy pow'r to lend base subjects light?
5Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeem,
6In gentle numbers, time so idly spent,
7Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem
8And gives thy pen both skill and argument.
9Rise, resty muse, my love's sweet face survey
10If time have any wrinkle graven there,
11If any, be a satire to decay
12And make time's spoils despisèd every where.
13    Give my love fame faster than time wastes life,
14    So thou prevent'st his scythe and crookèd knife.

Notes

3] fury] rapt inspiration. Back to Line
6] numbers] verses (Shakespeare counted syllables). Back to Line
9] resty] lazy. Back to Line
14] prevent'st: preuenst Q. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet