Shakespeare's Sonnets: From you have I been absent in the spring

Shakespeare's Sonnets: From you have I been absent in the spring

Sonnet 98

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): g1r-g1v.
1From you have I been absent in the spring,
2When proud pied April (dress't in all his trim)
3Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing
4That heavy Saturn laugh't and leap't with him.
5Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smell
6Of diff'rent flow'rs in odor and in hue,
7Could make me any summer's story tell
8Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew.
9Nor did I wonder at the lily's white,
10Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose:
11They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
12Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
13    Yet seem'd it winter still, and you away,
14    As with your shadow I with these did play.

Notes

2] pied] variegated in colours. trim] garb. Back to Line
3] spirit] pronounced as a single syllable (cf. OED, "sprite"). Back to Line
4] That] So that. Saturn] a planet associated with "heavy" (oppressive) melancholy. Back to Line
5] lays: songs. Back to Line
6] diff'rent flow'rs] different flowers Q. Back to Line
9] lily's] Lillies Q. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet