Shakespeare's Sonnets: Alas 'tis true, I have gone here and there

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Alas 'tis true, I have gone here and there

Sonnet 110

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): g3v-g4r.
1Alas 'tis true, I have gone here and there
2And made my self a motley to the view,
3Gored mine own thoughts, sold cheap what is most dear,
4Made old offences of affections new.
5Most true it is, that I have lookt on truth
6Askance and strangely, but by all above
7These blenches gave my heart an other youth,
8And worse essays prov'd thee my best of love.
9Now all is done, have what shall have no end!
10Mine appetite I never more will grind
11On newer proof, to try an older friend,
12A god in love, to whom I am confin'd.
13    Then give me welcome, next my heav'n the best,
14    Ev'n to thy pure and most most loving breast.

Notes

1] gone here and there] Actors travelled in the provinces. Back to Line
2] motley] clown wearing a fool's multi-coloured clothing. Back to Line
3] Gored] cut into gores or triangular wedges of cloth (OED, "gore," n.2, 3). Back to Line
4] "Probably: repeated my old vices in my new friendships. But Shakespeare may possibly continue the slighting reference to himself as an actor, suggesting that on the stage he re-enacts crimes of long ago. At any rate, the line's precise meaning is debatable" (F. D. Hoeniger, RP [1962]: 393). Back to Line
6] Askance] cynically. strangely] with suspicion. Back to Line
7] blenches] side glances (OED cites no instances of its use for 250 years before Shakespeare revived it here). Back to Line
8] essays] trials. Back to Line
9] have what shall have no end] literally, "accept what is forever." Back to Line
10] grind] torment. Back to Line
11] older friend] the beloved. Back to Line
13] heav'n] heauen Q. Back to Line
14] Ev'n] Euen Q. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet