Sonnet 37

Shadows and Forgiveness

  1. 1 As a decrepit father takes delight
  2. 2 To see his active child do deeds of youth,
  3. 3 So I, made lame by Fortune's dearest spite,
  4. 4 Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth;
  5. 5 For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,
  6. 6 Or any of these all, or all, or more,
  7. 7 Entitled in thy parts, do crowned sit,
  8. 8 I make my love engrafted, to this store:
  9. 9 So then I am not lame, poor, nor despis'd,
  10. 10 Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give
  11. 11 That I in thy abundance am suffic'd,
  12. 12 And by a part of all thy glory live.
  13. 13 Look what is best, that best I wish in thee:
  14. 14 This wish I have; then ten times happy me!