Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 34

by William Shakespeare

For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 34 (Shakespeare).

Layout 2

34

Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day,
And make me travel forth without my cloak,
To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,
Hiding thy bravery in their rotten smoke? 4
'Tis not enough that through the cloud thou break,
To dry the rain on my storm-beaten face,
For no man well of such a salve can speak
That heals the wound and cures not the disgrace: 8
Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief;
Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss:
The offender's sorrow lends but weak relief
To him that bears the strong offence's cross. 12
Ah! but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds,
And they are rich and ransom all ill deeds.

 

4 bravery: splendor
rotten smoke: unwholesome mist
13, 14 Ah! but those tears . . . ill deeds; cf. n.