Sonnet 74

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

But be contented: when that fell arrest

Without all bail shall carry me away,

My life hath in this line some interest,

Which for memorial still with thee shall stay.

When thou reviewest this, thou dost review

The very part was consecrate to thee:

The earth can have but earth, which is his due;

My spirit is thine, the better part of me:

So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life,

The prey of worms, my body being dead;

The coward conquest of a wretch's knife,

Too base of thee to be remembered.

      The worth of that is that which it contains,

      And that is this, and this with thee remains.

#legacy #mortality #poetic immortality #remembrance #soul #william shakespeare

1 like

Related poems →

More by William Shakespeare

Read "Sonnet 74" 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.