Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 39
For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 39 (Shakespeare).
39
O, how thy worth with manners may I sing,
When thou art all the better part of me?
What can mine own praise to mine own self bring?
And what is 't but mine own when I praise thee? 4
Even for this let us divided live,
And our dear love lose name of single one,
That by this separation I may give
That due to thee, which thou deserv'st alone. 8
O absence! what a torment wouldst thou prove,
Were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leave
To entertain the time with thoughts of love,
Which time and thoughts so sweetly doth deceive, 12
And that thou teachest how to make one twain,
By praising him here who doth hence remain.
1 with manners: becomingly
11 entertain: pass away
13, 14 And that thou teachest . . . remain; cf. n.