Shakespeare's Sonnets: O thou my lovely boy, who in thy pow'r

Shakespeare's Sonnets: O thou my lovely boy, who in thy pow'r

Sonnet 126

Original Text
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): h3r.
3Who hast by waning grown, and therein show'st,
4Thy lover's with'ring, as thy sweet self grow'st,
7She keeps thee to this purpose, that her skill
8May time disgrace, and wretched minute kill.
10She may detain but not still keep her treasure!

Notes

1] This 12-line poem has six couplets and is not in traditional sonnet form. Back to Line
2] Dost] Doest Q. glass] mirror. fickle hour] Duncan-Jones reads "sickle, hower" in the Q. Back to Line
5] sov'reign] soueraine Q. wrack] destruction. Back to Line
6] go'st: goest Q. Back to Line
9] minion] favorite. Extrametrical, with line 12. Back to Line
11] audit] settlement of accounts. Back to Line
12] quietus] discharge of obligation. render] hand over. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme