William Shakespeare, Sonnet xlviii
How careful was I when I took my way,
Each trifle under truest bars to thrust,
That, to my use, it might unused stay
4
From hands of falsehood, in sure wards of trust!
But thou, to whom my jewels trifles are,
Most worthy comfort, now my greatest grief,
Thou, best of dearest, and mine only care,
8
Art left the prey of every vulgar thief.
Thee I have not lock'd up in any chest,
Save where thou art not, though I feel thou art,
Within the gentle closure of my breast,
12
From whence at pleasure thou mayst come and part;
And even thence thou wilt be stolen I fear,
For truth proves thievish for a prize so dear. [*]
Notes
line 14: The same thought is in Venus and Adonis:-- "Rich preys make true men thieves." [ Back to text ]
Most notes to Shakespeare's sonnets are from Charles Knight's edition, but those in square brackets are mine.