Shakespeare Portal

Part 2

Lines 113–224

  1. 113 'But quickly on this side the verdict went;
  2. 114 His real habitude gave life and grace
  3. 115 To appertainings and to ornament,
  4. 116 Accomplish'd in himself, not in his case,:
  5. 117 All aids, themselves made fairer by their place,
  6. 118 Came for additions; yet their purpos'd trim
  7. 119 Pierc'd not his grace, but were all grac'd by him.
  8. 120 'So on the tip of his subduing tongue
  9. 121 All kind of arguments and question deep,
  10. 122 All replication prompt, and reason strong,
  11. 123 For his advantage still did wake and sleep:
  12. 124 To make the weeper laugh, the laugher weep,
  13. 125 He had the dialect and different skill,
  14. 126 Catching all passions in his craft of will;
  15. 127 'That he did in the general bosom reign
  16. 128 Of young, of old; and sexes both enchanted,
  17. 129 To dwell with him in thoughts, or to remain
  18. 130 In personal duty, following where he haunted:
  19. 131 Consents bewitch'd, ere he desire, have granted;
  20. 132 And dialogued for him what he would say,
  21. 133 Ask'd their own wills, and made their wills obey.
  22. 134 'Many there were that did his picture get,
  23. 135 To serve their eyes, and in it put their mind;
  24. 136 Like fools that in the imagination set
  25. 137 The goodly objects which abroad they find
  26. 138 Of lands and mansions, theirs in thought assign'd;
  27. 139 And labouring in mo pleasures to bestow them,
  28. 140 Than the true gouty landlord which doth owe them:
  29. 141 'So many have, that never touch'd his hand,
  30. 142 Sweetly suppos'd them mistress of his heart.
  31. 143 My woeful self, that did in freedom stand,
  32. 144 And was my own fee-simple, (not in part,)
  33. 145 What with his heart in youth, and youth in art,
  34. 146 Threw my affections in his charmed power,
  35. 147 Reserv'd the stalk, and gave him all my flower.
  36. 148 'Yet did I not, as some my equals did,
  37. 149 Demand of him, nor being desired yielded;
  38. 150 Finding myself in honour so forbid,
  39. 151 With safest distance I mine honour shielded:
  40. 152 Experience for me many bulwarks builded
  41. 153 Of proofs new-bleeding, which remain'd the foil
  42. 154 Of this false jewel, and his amorous spoil.
  43. 155 'But ah! who ever shunn'd by precedent
  44. 156 The destin'd ill she must herself assay?
  45. 157 Or force'd examples, 'gainst her own content,
  46. 158 To put the by-pass'd perils in her way?
  47. 159 Counsel may stop awhile what will not stay;
  48. 160 For when we rage, advice is often seen
  49. 161 By blunting us to make our wills more keen.
  50. 162 'Nor gives it satisfaction to our blood,
  51. 163 That we must curb it upon others' proof,
  52. 164 To be forbod the sweets that seems so good,
  53. 165 For fear of harms that preach in our behoof.
  54. 166 O appetite, from judgement stand aloof!
  55. 167 The one a palate hath that needs will taste,
  56. 168 Though reason weep, and cry It is thy last.
  57. 169 'For further I could say, This man's untrue,
  58. 170 And knew the patterns of his foul beguiling;
  59. 171 Heard where his plants in others' orchards grew,
  60. 172 Saw how deceits were gilded in his smiling;
  61. 173 Knew vows were ever brokers to defiling;
  62. 174 Thought characters and words, merely but art,
  63. 175 And bastards of his foul adulterate heart.
  64. 176 'And long upon these terms I held my city,
  65. 177 Till thus he 'gan besiege me: Gentle maid,
  66. 178 Have of my suffering youth some feeling pity,
  67. 179 And be not of my holy vows afraid:
  68. 180 That's to you sworn, to none was ever said;
  69. 181 For feasts of love I have been call'd unto,
  70. 182 Till now did ne'er invite, nor never woo.
  71. 183 'All my offences that abroad you see
  72. 184 Are errors of the blood, none of the mind;
  73. 185 Love made them not; with acture they may be,
  74. 186 Where neither party is nor true nor kind:
  75. 187 They sought their shame that so their shame did find;
  76. 188 And so much less of shame in me remains,
  77. 189 By how much of me their reproach contains.
  78. 190 'Among the many that mine eyes have seen,
  79. 191 Not one whose flame my heart so much as warm'd,
  80. 192 Or my affection put to the smallest teen,
  81. 193 Or any of my leisures ever charm'd:
  82. 194 Harm have I done to them, but ne'er was harmed;
  83. 195 Kept hearts in liveries, but mine own was free,
  84. 196 And reign'd, commanding in his monarchy.
  85. 197 'Look here what tributes wounded fancies sent me,
  86. 198 Of paled pearls and rubies red as blood;
  87. 199 Figuring that they their passions likewise lent me
  88. 200 Of grief and blushes, aptly understood
  89. 201 In bloodless white and the encrimson'd mood;
  90. 202 Effects of terror and dear modesty,
  91. 203 Encamp'd in hearts, but fighting outwardly.
  92. 204 'And, lo! behold these talents of their hair,
  93. 205 With twisted metal amorously empleach'd,
  94. 206 I have receiv'd from many a several fair,
  95. 207 (Their kind acceptance weepingly beseech'd,)
  96. 208 With the annexions of fair gems enrich'd,
  97. 209 And deep-brain'd sonnets that did amplify
  98. 210 Each stone's dear nature, worth, and quality.
  99. 211 'The diamond, why 'twas beautiful and hard,
  100. 212 Whereto his invis'd properties did tend;
  101. 213 The deep-green emerald, in whose fresh regard
  102. 214 Weak sights their sickly radiance do amend;
  103. 215 The heaven-hued sapphire and the opal blend
  104. 216 With objects manifold; each several stone,
  105. 217 With wit well blazon'd, smil'd, or made some moan.
  106. 218 'Lo! all these trophies of affections hot,
  107. 219 Of pensiv'd and subdued desires the tender,
  108. 220 Nature hath charg'd me that I hoard them not,
  109. 221 But yield them up where I myself must render,
  110. 222 That is, to you, my origin and ender:
  111. 223 For these, of force, must your oblations be,
  112. 224 Since I their altar, you enpatron me.