Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 51

by William Shakespeare

For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 51 (Shakespeare).

Layout 2

51

Thus can my love excuse the slow offence
Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need. 4
O, what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,
In winged speed no motion shall I know: 8
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;
Therefore desire, of perfect'st love being made,
Shall neigh—no dull flesh—in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade,— 12
'Since from thee going he went wilful-slow,
Towards thee I'll run and give him leave to go.'

 

1 slow offence: blameworthy slowness
6 swift extremity: extreme speed
8 In winged speed . . . know: though moving with the speed of wings, I shall not seem to myself to be moving at all
11 Shall neigh . . . fiery race; cf. n.
12 for love: for the sake of his love (shown by the slow gait)
14 go: walk