Sonnet LXIV: When I have Seen by Time's Fell Hand Defaced

Shakespeare, William (1564 - 1616)

Original Text

William Shakespeare, Shake-speares sonnets (London: G. Eld for T. T., 1609). STC 22353. Facs. edn.: London: J. Cape, 1925. PR 2750 B48 1609b ROBA.

1When I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'd

2The rich proud cost of outworn buried age;

3When sometime lofty towers I see down-ras'd

4And brass eternal slave to mortal rage;

5When I have seen the hungry ocean gain

6Advantage on the kingdom of the shore,

7And the firm soil win of the wat'ry main,

8Increasing store with loss and loss with store;

9When I have seen such interchange of state,

10Or state itself confounded to decay;

11Ruin hath taught me thus to ruminate,

12That Time will come and take my love away.

13This thought is as a death, which cannot choose

14But weep to have that which it fears to lose.

Notes

3] sometime: once.
down-ras'd: pulled down. Back to Line

10] confounded: destroyed. Back to Line

13] which: refers back to this thought. Back to Line

Publication Start Year

1609

RPO poem Editors

F. D. Hoeniger

RPO Edition

3RP 1.140.

Rhyme

ababcdcdefefgg

Form

sonnet