Shakespeare’s Splendid Sonnets Jenny Cho English C Block 8/26/08

Introduction Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets in all Responsible for some of poetry’s most lasting phrases

XVIII. (18) Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature's changing course un- trimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st, Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st; So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Should I compare you to summer? You are more lovely and mild. Whereas the winds in May shake the newborn flowers. And summer is too short Sometimes the sun is too hot. And the sun’s light is temporary. And other fine things are ephemeral Because either by chance or nature’s continuing course. But you will never fade. Nor lose your fair beauty. Nor die. When you age Men will still see your beauty for a long time And this will give you life.

XXVII. (27) Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed, The dear repose for limbs with travel tir'd; But then begins a journey in my head To work my mind, when body's work's expir'd: For then my thoughts—from far where I abide— Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee, And keep my drooping eyelids open wide, Looking on darkness which the blind do see: Save that my soul's imaginary sight Presents thy shadow to my sightless view, Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night, Makes black night beauteous and her old face new. Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind, For thee, and for myself no quiet find.

Tired, I go to bed quickly To relax my weary limbs But then I begin to think To work my mind, when my body is finished working. Then my thoughts, which I tolerate Intend a passionate course of life to me, And keep my eyes open, Seeing darkness My soul presents my shadow, Which is like a jewel hung in a ghastly night, Making her young and the night beautiful. Therefore, I use my limbs during the day and my mid during the night. And I cannot find any quiet time for myself.

XXX. (30) When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear times' waste: Then can I drown an eye, unus'd to flow, For precious friends hid in death's dateless night, And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe, And moan the expense of many a vanish'd sight: Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er The sad account of fore- bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not paid before. But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restor'd and sorrows end.

Bibliogrphy “Shakespeare's Sonnets 1-25 at Absolute Shakespeare.” 24 Aug htm htm “Shakespeare Sonnets at AbsoluteShakespeare.com.” 23 Aug htm. htm “William Shakespeare facts at AbsoluteShakespeare.com.” 23 Aug 2008.