William Shakespeare, Sonnet lxvii
Ah! wherefore with infection should he live,
And with his presence grace impiety,
That sin by him advantage should achievve,
4
And lace itself with his society? [*]
Why should false painting imitate his cheek,
And steal dead seeing of his living hue?
Why should poor beauty indirectly seek
8
Roses of shadow, since his rose is true?
Why should he live now Nature bankrupt is,
For she hath no exchequer now but his,
12
And, pour of many, lives upon his gains.
O, him she stores, to show what wealth she had
In days long since, before these last so bad.
Notes
line 4: Lace -- embellish -- ornament. [ Back to text ]
Most notes to Shakespeare's sonnets are from Charles Knight's edition, but those in square brackets are mine.