English poem
Sonnet 96: Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness
Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness; Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport; Both grace and faults are lov'd of more and less: Thou mak'st faults graces that to thee resort. As on the finger of a throned queen The basest jewel will be well esteem'd, So are those errors that in thee are seen To truths translated, and for true things deem'd. How many lambs might the stern wolf betray, If like a lamb he could his looks translate! How many gazers mightst thou lead away, if thou wouldst use the strength of all thy state! But do not so; I love thee in such sort, As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.
More by William Shakespeare
- Sonnet 92: But do thy worst to steal thyself away
- Sonnet 93: So shall I live, supposing thou art true
- Sonnet 94: They that have power to hurt, and will do none
- Sonnet 95: How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame
- Sonnet 97: How like a winter hath my absence been
- Sonnet 98: From you have I been absent in the spring
- Sonnet 99: The forward violet thus did I chide
- Sonnet 9: Is it for fear to wet a widow's eye