Sonnet 34
Shadows and Forgiveness
- 1 Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day,
- 2 And make me travel forth without my cloak,
- 3 To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,
- 4 Hiding thy bravery in their rotten smoke?
- 5 'Tis not enough that through the cloud thou break,
- 6 To dry the rain on my storm-beaten face,
- 7 For no man well of such a salve can speak,
- 8 That heals the wound, and cures not the disgrace:
- 9 Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief;
- 10 Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss:
- 11 The offender's sorrow lends but weak relief
- 12 To him that bears the strong offence's cross.
- 13 Ah! but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds,
- 14 And they are rich and ransom all ill deeds.