Sonnet 35

by William Shakespeare · (no date)
Published 01/07/1880

No more be griev'd at that which thou hast done:

Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud;

Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,

And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.

All men make faults, and even I in this,

Authorising thy trespass with compare,

Myself corrupting, salving thy amiss,

Excusing thy sins more than thy sins are;

For to thy sensual fault I bring in sense,—

Thy adverse party is thy advocate,—

And 'gainst myself a lawful plea commence:

Such civil war is in my love and hate,

      That I an accessary needs must be

      To that sweet thief which sourly robs from me.

#internal conflict #moral ambiguity #self deception #william shakespeare

4 likes

Related poems →

More by William Shakespeare

Read "Sonnet 35" by William Shakespeare. One of the best and most popular poems on The Poet's Place. Discover more trending, inspiring, and beautiful poetry by William Shakespeare.