Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 36

by William Shakespeare

For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 36 (Shakespeare).

Layout 2

36

Let me confess that we two must be twain,
Although our undivided loves are one:
So shall those blots that do with me remain,
Without thy help, by me be borne alone. 4
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,
Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love's delight. 8
I may not evermore acknowledge thee,
Lest my bewailed guilt should do thee shame,
Nor thou with public kindness honour me,
Unless thou take that honour from thy name: 12
But do not so; I love thee in such sort
As thou being mine, mine is thy good report.

 

5 respect: consideration, regard
6 separable: dividing, separating
13,14 But do not so . . . good report; cf. n.