English poem
Sonnet 144: Two loves I have of comfort and despair
Two loves I have of comfort and despair, Which like two spirits do suggest me still: The better angel is a man right fair, The worser spirit a woman colour'd ill. To win me soon to hell, my female evil, Tempteth my better angel from my side, And would corrupt my saint to be a devil, Wooing his purity with her foul pride. And whether that my angel be turn'd fiend, Suspect I may, yet not directly tell; But being both from me, both to each friend, I guess one angel in another's hell: Yet this shall I ne'er know, but live in doubt, Till my bad angel fire my good one out.
More by William Shakespeare
- Sonnet 140: Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press
- Sonnet 141: In faith I do not love thee with mine eyes
- Sonnet 142: Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate
- Sonnet 143: Lo, as a careful housewife runs to catch
- Sonnet 145: Those lips that Love's own hand did make
- Sonnet 146: Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth
- Sonnet 147: My love is as a fever longing still
- Sonnet 149: Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not