English poem
Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slave
That god forbid, that made me first your slave, I should in thought control your times of pleasure, Or at your hand the account of hours to crave, Being your vassal, bound to stay your leisure! O! let me suffer, being at your beck, The imprison'd absence of your liberty; And patience, tame to sufferance, bide each check, Without accusing you of injury. Be where you list, your charter is so strong That you yourself may privilage your time To what you will; to you it doth belong Yourself to pardon of self-doing crime. I am to wait, though waiting so be hell, Not blame your pleasure be it ill or well.
More by William Shakespeare
- Sonnet 54: O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
- Sonnet 55: Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
- Sonnet 56: Sweet love, renew thy force; be it not said
- Sonnet 57: Being your slave what should I do but tend
- Sonnet 59: If there be nothing new, but that which is
- Sonnet 5: Those hours, that with gentle work did frame
- Sonnet 60: Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore
- Sonnet 61: Is it thy will, thy image should keep open