O, how I faint when I of you do write...
Sonnet 80O, how I faint when I of you do write,
Knowing a better spirit doth use your name, And in the praise thereof spends all his might, To make me tongue-tied, speaking of your fame! But since your worth, wide as the ocean is, The humble as the proudest sail doth bear, My saucy bark inferior far to his On your broad main doth wilfully appear. Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat, Whilst he upon your soundless deep doth ride; Or being wreck'd, I am a worthless boat, He of tall building and of goodly pride: Then if he thrive and I be cast away, The worst was this; my love was my decay. |
Buy and Download...Click HERE
|
I find it really hard to write about you when I know that someone else is doing it so much better. Still, seeing as there’s as much scope to praise you as there is room to sail the ocean, I’ll row my little paddle-boat out on your expanse to compete with his huge steamship. He has to stay in the deep waters, while I can splash about in your shallows with impunity. On the other hand, if I get wrecked it’s no great shakes, but a big deal if he sinks. If he’s favoured over me, the worst that can be said is that my love was my downfall.