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William Shakespeare, Sonnet xlix

Against that time, if ever that time come,
When I shall see thee frown on my defects,
Whenas thy love hath cast his utmost sum, [*]
4
Call'd to that audit by advis'd respects;
Against that time, when thou shalt strangely pass,
And scarcely greet me with that sun, thine eye,
When love, converted from the thing it was,
8
Shall reasons find of settled gravity;
Against that time do I ensconce me here [*]
Within the knowledge of mine own desert,
And this my hand against myself uprear,
12
To guard the lawful reasons on thy part:
To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws,
Since, why to love, I can allege no cause.

Notes

line 3: Whenas -- when. [ Back to text ]

line 9: Ensconce -- fortify. [ Back to text ]

Most notes to Shakespeare's sonnets are from Charles Knight's edition, but those in square brackets are mine.