English poem
Sonnet 22: My glass shall not persuade me I am old
My glass shall not persuade me I am old, So long as youth and thou are of one date; But when in thee time's furrows I behold, Then look I death my days should expiate. For all that beauty that doth cover thee, Is but the seemly raiment of my heart, Which in thy breast doth live, as thine in me: How can I then be elder than thou art? O! therefore love, be of thyself so wary As I, not for myself, but for thee will; Bearing thy heart, which I will keep so chary As tender nurse her babe from faring ill. Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain, Thou gav'st me thine not to give back again.
More by William Shakespeare
- Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws
- Sonnet 1: From fairest creatures we desire increase
- Sonnet 20: A woman's face with nature's own hand painted
- Sonnet 21: So is it not with me as with that Muse
- Sonnet 23: As an unperfect actor on the stage
- Sonnet 24: Mine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stell'd
- Sonnet 25: Let those who are in favour with their stars
- Sonnet 26: Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage