English poem
Sonnet 87: Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing
Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing, And like enough thou know'st thy estimate, The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing; My bonds in thee are all determinate. For how do I hold thee but by thy granting? And for that riches where is my deserving? The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting, And so my patent back again is swerving. Thy self thou gav'st, thy own worth then not knowing, Or me to whom thou gav'st it, else mistaking; So thy great gift, upon misprision growing, Comes home again, on better judgement making. Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter, In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.
More by William Shakespeare
- Sonnet 83: I never saw that you did painting need
- Sonnet 84: Who is it that says most, which can say more
- Sonnet 85: My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still
- Sonnet 86: Was it the proud full sail of his great verse
- Sonnet 88: When thou shalt be dispos'd to set me light
- Sonnet 89: Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault
- Sonnet 8: Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?
- Sonnet 90: Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now