Page:Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale.djvu/23

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Shakespeare's Sonnets
13

25

Let those who are in favour with their stars
Of public honour and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars,
Unlook'd for joy in that I honour most. 4
Great princes' favourites their fair leaves spread
But as the marigold at the sun's eye,
And in themselves their pride lies buried,
For at a frown they in their glory die. 8
The painful warrior famoused for fight,
After a thousand victories once foil'd,
Is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toil'd: 12
Then happy I, that love and am belov'd,
Where I may not remove nor be remov'd.


26

Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage
Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit,
To thee I send this written ambassage,
To witness duty, not to show my wit: 4
Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine
May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it,
But that I hope some good conceit of thine
In thy soul's thought, all naked, will bestow it; 8
Till whatsoever star that guides my moving
Points on me graciously with fair aspect,
And puts apparel on my tatter'd loving,
To show me worthy of thy sweet respect: 12
Then may I dare to boast how I do love thee;
Till then, not show my head where thou mayst prove me.


4 Unlook'd for: unexpectedly
6 But: only
7 And in . . . buried: their pride soon perishes with them

1–14 Cf. n.
3 ambassage: message
10 Points: shines