Shakespeare's Sonnets: Look in thy glass and tell the face thou view'st

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Look in thy glass and tell the face thou view'st

Sonnet 3

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): B1v.
8Of his self love to stop posterity?
11So thou through windows of thine age shalt see,
12Despite of wrinkles, this thy golden time.
13    But if thou live rememb'red not to be,
14    Die single and thine image dies with thee.

Notes

1] view'st] viewest Q. Back to Line
2] other] extrametrical, with line 4. Back to Line
3] Whose] modifies "that face" (3). renew'st] renewest Q. Back to Line
4] beguile] cheat. unbless] deny a blessing (first OED citation). Back to Line
5] un-ear'd] unsown, not ploughed. Back to Line
6] tillage] cultivation, and sexual intercourse. husbandry] farming, and the role of a wife's husband. Back to Line
7] fond] foolish. Back to Line
9] glass] mirror. The mother of William Herbert, a candidate for the young man, was Mary Sidney, countess of Pembroke and sister of Sir Philip Sidney. Back to Line
10] prime] early adulthood, often compared to the spring season. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Form