Sonnet 121
Farewell to the Fair Youth
- 1 'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd,
- 2 When not to be receives reproach of being;
- 3 And the just pleasure lost, which is so deem'd
- 4 Not by our feeling, but by others' seeing:
- 5 For why should others' false adulterate eyes
- 6 Give salutation to my sportive blood?
- 7 Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
- 8 Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
- 9 No, I am that I am, and they that level
- 10 At my abuses reckon up their own:
- 11 I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
- 12 By their rank thoughts, my deeds must not be shown;
- 13 Unless this general evil they maintain,
- 14 All men are bad and in their badness reign.