Sonnet 88

Estrangement and Return

  1. 1 When thou shalt be dispos'd to set me light,
  2. 2 And place my merit in the eye of scorn,
  3. 3 Upon thy side, against myself I'll fight,
  4. 4 And prove thee virtuous, though thou art forsworn.
  5. 5 With mine own weakness, being best acquainted,
  6. 6 Upon thy part I can set down a story
  7. 7 Of faults conceal'd, wherein I am attainted;
  8. 8 That thou in losing me shalt win much glory:
  9. 9 And I by this will be a gainer too;
  10. 10 For bending all my loving thoughts on thee,
  11. 11 The injuries that to myself I do,
  12. 12 Doing thee vantage, double-vantage me.
  13. 13 Such is my love, to thee I so belong,
  14. 14 That for thy right, myself will bear all wrong.