Shakespeare's Sonnets: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes

Shakespeare's Sonnets: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes

Sonnet 29

1When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
2I all alone beweep my out-cast state
3And trouble deaf heav'n with my bootless cries,
4And look upon my self and curse my fate,
5Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
6Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess't,
7Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
8With what I most enjoy contented least;
9Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,
10Haply I think on thee, and then my state
11(Like to the lark at break of day arising)
12From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven's gate,
13    For thy sweet love rememb'red such wealth brings,
14    That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Notes

2] beweep] cry (tears) about. Back to Line
3] heav'n] heauen Q. bootless] remediless. Back to Line
7] scope] breadth of talents. Back to Line
9] An extrametrical line. Back to Line
10] Haply] perhaps. Back to Line
11] An extrametrical line. Back to Line
12] sullen] gloomy. Back to Line
Publication Notes
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): c2v-c3r.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet