English poem
Sonnet 34: Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day
Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day, And make me travel forth without my cloak, To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way, Hiding thy bravery in their rotten smoke? 'Tis not enough that through the cloud thou break, To dry the rain on my storm-beaten face, For no man well of such a salve can speak, That heals the wound, and cures not the disgrace: Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief; Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss: The offender's sorrow lends but weak relief To him that bears the strong offence's cross. Ah! but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds, And they are rich and ransom all ill deeds.
More by William Shakespeare
- Sonnet 30: When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
- Sonnet 31: Thy bosom is endeared with all hearts
- Sonnet 32: If thou survive my well-contented day
- Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen
- Sonnet 35: No more be griev'd at that which thou hast done
- Sonnet 36: Let me confess that we two must be twain
- Sonnet 37: As a decrepit father takes delight
- Sonnet 38: How can my muse want subject to invent