William Shakespeare, Sonnet xxxvi
Let me confess that we two must be twain,
Although our undivided loves are one:
So shall those blots that do with me remain,
4
Without thy help, by me be borne alone.
In our two loves there is but one respect,
Though in our lives a separable spite [*]
Which though it alter not love's sole effect,
8
Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love's delight.
I may not evermore acknowledge thee,
Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame;
Nor thou with public kindness honour me,
12
Unless thou take that honour from thy name:
But do not so; I love thee in such sort,
As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.
Notes
line 6: Separable -- separating. [ Back to text ]
Most notes to Shakespeare's sonnets are from Charles Knight's edition, but those in square brackets are mine.