Sonnet CXIX.
“What potions have I drunk of Siren tears,
Distill’d from limbecks foul as hell within,
Applying fears to hopes and hopes to fears,
Still losing when I saw myself to win!
What wretched errors hath my heart committed,
Whilst it hath thought itself so blessed never!
How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted
In the distraction of this madding fever!
O benefit of ill! now I find true
that better is by evil still made better;
And ruin’d love, when it is built anew,
Grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater.
So I return rebuked to my content
And gain by ill thrice more than I have spent.”
Sonnett CXXI.
” ‘Tis better to be vile than vile esteem’d
When not to be receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure is lost which is so deem’d
Not by our feeling but by others’ seeing:
For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own:
I may be straight, thought they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts my deeds much not be shown;
Unless this general evil they maintain,
All men are bad, and in their badness reign.” William Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford, England
on April 23rd. 1564, some four hundred and fifty-five years ago.
Islander.