The Sonnets (mostly Shakespeare)

Saturday, February 04, 2006

XXXII. If thou survive my well-contented day,

If thou survive my well-contented day,
When that churl Death my bones with dust shall cover
And shalt by fortune once more re-survey
These poor rude lines of thy deceased lover,
Compare them with the bett'ring of the time,
And though they be outstripped by every pen,
Reserve them for my love, not for their rhyme,
Exceeded by the height of happier men.
O! then vouchsafe me but this loving thought:
'Had my friend's Muse grown with this growing age,
A dearer birth than this his love had brought,
To march in ranks of better equipage:
But since he died and poets better prove,
Theirs for their style I'll read, his for his love'.

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1 Comments:

  • If thou survive my well-contented day,
    When that churl Death shall cover my bones with dust
    And by fortune shalt once more re-survey
    These poor rude lines of thy deceased lover,
    Compare them with the bett'ring of the time,
    And though they be outstripped by every pen,
    Reserve them for my love, not for their rhyme,
    Exceeded by the height of happier men.
    O! then vouchsafe me but this loving thought:
    'Had my friend's Muse grown with this growing age,
    his love had brought a dearer birth than this,
    To march in ranks of better equipage:
    But since he died and poets better prove,
    I'll read Theirs for their style, his for his love'.

    By Blogger Jorielle, at Saturday, February 04, 2006 12:50:00 PM  

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