William Shakespeare. 1564-1616
160. Sonnets xvi
1 min to read
110 words

WHEN in the chronicle of wasted time I see descriptions of the fairest wights, And beauty making beautiful old rime In praise of Ladies dead and lovely Knights; Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty's best, Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow, I see their antique pen would have exprest Even such a beauty as you master now. So all their praises are but prophecies Of this our time, all you prefiguring; And for they look'd but with divining eyes, They had not skill enough your worth to sing:   For we, which now behold these present days,   Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.

Read next chapter  >>
William Shakespeare. 1564-1616
161. Sonnets xvii
1 min to read
115 words
Return to The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250–1900






Comments